Chair Person

Louise Cato

chair@denmarkarts.com.au

Louise joined the board of Denmark Arts in 2020 after a successful career in health care and health management. She has long been an enthusiastic “dabbler” in the visual arts, and has a great interest in the benefits of creative appreciation and expression to physical and mental well-being.

Having worked as a speech pathologist with those experiencing brain injuries, Louise saw the immense benefits that art therapy and story writing, brought to her communication impaired clients. She edited a book of stories as told by women making the long journey of recovery from their injuries. 

Louise brings to Denmark Arts strong organisational skills and human resource management.

Vice Person

Mary-Ellen Cliff

vicechair@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 lives and works in the town of Denmark on the south coast of WA. She is currently vice-chair of Denmark Arts board. Mary Ellen is passionate about promoting regional crafts and makers, and believes in the power of film to tell a good (short) story.

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

​

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

​

Ian Marshall

Iain has been immersed in Denmark's Artistic Community for over a decade. His passion is around training opportunities of external, internal skill transfer activities that combine into a Brave New Work. 

The Arts in Denmark are fundamental to its identity, the health/wellbeing of the community and a visible career path. 
Iain has a Diploma in community development and has worked in those fields locally and afar. He Chaired Wilson Inlet Committee, 10 years as a member of the Denmark Village Theatre committee, worked at Hypertheatre writing scripts and character creation and toured productions in schools, managed and chaired the Denmark Youth Centre meetings, Vice Chaired Southern Edge Arts, Coordinator of the Albany 8Ball Association.