Webinars Drafting

The arts sector can be challenging with minimal opportunities and growth presenting itself, especially from a regional and remote context, often facing an unreliable ebb and flow of income and funding.

How do you stop constantly moving from one project to another and develop a more stable, consistent and sustainable career and practice?

How do you identify the opportunities that unlock potential and set you on a stronger footing?

When do you plan and when do you let go?

This panel discussion is for artists and artsworkers at all stages in their career to hear examples of sustainable pathways from highly respected and accomplished cultural leaders Liz Burcham (President – Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance), Diat Alferink (CEO – Torres Strait Islander Media Association), and Briana Enoch (Founder, Jarawee). The session will be facilitated by Luke Harriman (State Manager – RASN Interim Service).

Liz Burcham has extensive experience in the commercial, government and not-for profit sectors of the creative industries as a producer and organisational leader. Passionate about creating platforms for artists to create new work and thrive sustainably, she has invested significant time in artist mentoring and industry development.

Career highlights include Cultural Director for the City of Newcastle, responsible for the city’s cultural strategy as part of the city’s urban renewal; CEO of Metro Arts, the Brisbane-based contemporary arts space dedicated to the development of artists and contemporary practice, where over her 11-year tenure Liz developed Metro Arts into a nationally respected organisation providing a leading platform of infrastructure, incubator and producing services for performing and visual artists.

Liz is Chair of Sunshine Coast Creative Alliance (SCCA), Deputy Chair of Queensland Theatre Company and member of the Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory Board. 

Diat is a performing artist, festival director, comedian, film maker and creative producer. She’s a skilled project manager with extensive experience over the last 30 years leading, developing and directing community arts organisations, community consultations, large scale festivals, community events and productions. 

Diat was raised is Outback South Australia but now currently lives on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, where she’s CEO of the Torres Strait Islander Media Association (TSIMA) and Editor in Chief of the Torres News. 

Diat is a strong advocate for the ongoing need and value of first nation arts, culture and media development opportunities in regional and remote communities. She’s passionate about the positive contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, culture and media can make to the lives of all Australians.

Briana Enoch, a Kuku-Yalanji, Quandamooka, and Kaantju woman, founded JARAWEE (“pretty little bird”) in 2015. Driven by her deep connection to Country and love for art, she began painting intricate, brightly colored patterns onto shoes and handbags, weaving her heritage into every piece. Her early work gained unexpected attention when her designs impressed Jimmy Choo himself at an industry event.

This initial success led to a major breakthrough in 2021 when Briana debuted a couture piece at the Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) to wide acclaim. This dress was later featured in the “Eucalyptusdom” exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Inspired by her father’s Country and the Goori (saltwater) people, this success fueled her first high-end fashion line, the “Quandamooka Collection 2021,” showcased at the Brisbane Fashion Festival.

Since then, Briana’s JARAWEE label has graced iconic Australian runways, including Melbourne Fashion Week and the AAFW First Nations Fashion and Design runway, earning nominations for numerous awards, such as the National Indigenous Fashion Awards. She encapsulates her philosophy by saying, “When you wear a JARAWEE design, you are taking a bit of country with you.”

Briana also gives back to her community by running Din Din Aboriginal Arts Gallery in Kuranda, North Queensland, providing a vital space to mentor young Aboriginal artists in art and business.

Luke Harriman is a creative and strategic leader with over 25 years experience in arts and culture across regional, state, and national levels. His career spans leadership roles in local government, touring, major events, and industry development—including as General Manager of PAC Australia (2021–2024). He has also held key roles with Gympie Regional Council, where he led the transformation of its cultural services, and with the former Queensland touring service, arTour, supporting artists, producers, and presenters to build a strong touring sector through network development, capacity building, and touring services. 

Based in the Gympie, Luke is a steadfast advocate for thriving regional arts and communities.