Chair

Mary-Ellen Cliff

chair@denmarkarts.com.au

Mary Ellen is a ceramic artist with a background in retail, education and with NGO experience.

She has worked in the field and as a director for several NGOs. In her varied working career she has owned and managed a retail store, been director of a small, independent school, and has had the privilege of teaching in remote Western Desert and Pilbara communities.

Mary Ellen Cliff and Carola Akindele-Obe established the partnership of Maker & Smith in 2017, with the sole purpose of acting on their deep-felt ambition to see the professional craft sector shine brighter in Western Australia. Maker & Smith’s goal is to make a positive contribution to the local scene by showcasing great makers through a national and international touring short film festival, storytelling and masterclasses presented by specialists, invited from interstate, overseas and in Western Australia and to encourage local Western Australian makers to extend their presentation on the global arena.

She is currently chair of Denmark Arts board, having served on the board for three years and is passionate about the Arts and their impact on the Denmark community.

Secretary

Barbara Helsby

secretary@denmarkarts.com.au

Barb has been actively involved in art, craft, music, dance and community organisations for many years. Relevant work life has included working as a studio potter; providing training, support and mentoring particularly around numerous access and equity groups, and for 15 years managed a successful community not for profit, delivering registered training, career guidance, headspace youth mental health and other equity programs.

Key skills include funding applications; contract, financial and people management and governance.
She has been an active board member for numerous organisations focussing on arts, ceramics, volunteers,
support for ex-offenders and state based employment and careers networks. Barb believes in the benefits of
lifelong learning and is currently focussing on developing her music skills.

Treasurer

Duncan Monro 

treasurer@denmarkarts.com.au

Dr Monro has over 35 years' experience as a Chartered Accountant and Business Advisor in Australia and internationally.  He has previously had senior roles in the large accounting firms, RSM Australia, KPMG and Crowe Australia.  He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Dr Monro currently serves on the Boards of other not-for-profit organisations, including Central Desert Native Title Services Limited, Autism Association of WA, Yued Aboriginal Corporation and South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc.

He has diverse work experience, including business valuations, due diligence, compliance, business planning, financial mentoring and advisory services for Indigenous entities and general financial consulting.

Board Directors

Carly Le Cerf

A Denmark based artist, who works with oil paint and encaustic wax techniques to produce portrayals of the Australian landscape. Her processes are highly attuned and are informed by regular excursions to regional and remote area of
Australia. Created in her home studio, Carly’s artworks are large-scale interpretations of the Australian landscape, developed in series for exhibition at Michael Reid Gallery in Sydney/Berlin. Her works have been acquired for both private and public collections in Australia and internationally.

During her career, Carly has been committed to fostering artistic community via online platforms and art trips in both WA and NT and she has participated in numerous self-funded and funded artist residency programs, both as a resident artist and as a mentor, offering guidance and support to fellow creatives. 
Carly is eager to contribute to the growth and success of the organisation through various initiatives and roles. With industry level experience,  Carly recognises the importance of community and collaboration and will serve as a liaison between Denmark Arts and the practicing visual artists within the community. She will assist in the facilitation of communication and fostering a supportive and vibrant artistic community in Denmark. Carly is enthusiastic about the potential to make a positive impact on Denmark Arts and is dedicated to promoting visual arts within the community.

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Seirah Woodward

Seirah has a Certificate of Interior Design at the Enmore Design School (previously TAFE), a Post Graduate Diploma in Design at the University of Technology Sydney and Colour & Design at the School of colour and Design. Seirah worked as a Design Manager & Senior Interior Designer in both Government and private enterprise. Both positions included design, space planning, project and construction management for small and large commercial projects.
Since arriving in Denmark Seirah worked for H+H Architects in Albany and Ruth Newman Architect in Sydney (remotely) with a variety of projects including residential, retail, schools and small to medium commercial buildings. Both these positions were on a contract basis, which allowed her to run a design & architectural drafting business as a sole trader.

In March 2022, Sarah Bondini and herself organised the Bushfire fundraiser Art Sale to assist those who had been affected by the bushfires. Together with the support of many local artists we raised over $10,000. Living in Denmark, Seirah is a visual artist, self-employed as a Design & Architectural draftsperson, is the Chair of the ArtSouthWA Board and now contributing and sharing her knowledge and skills to the Denmark Arts Board.​