Creative Toolbox: Building Your Audience

Andrew studied music (voice & conducting) at the University of East Anglia and was twice awarded the Norwich and Peterborough Scholarship, enabling him to continue vocal studies with John Aplin (MA). He was subsequently awarded a prestigious Japanese Government (Monbusho) Scholarship, which allowed him to pursue postgraduate solo vocal studies at the Tokyo National University of Music and Fine Arts.

Fluent in Japanese, His TV presenting profile includes Weekend Japanology on NHK to over 80 countries world-wide, and Sky TV. A versatile session singer and narrator, he has extensive voice over, narration and studio credits in Japan and Australia including, featured voice in McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin It and Telstra campaigns to name a few, in addition to background vocals for George Benson with SSO/TSO, Usher and collaborative performances with Paul Mac, Sheila E & Chaka Khan. He can also be heard on Audible as the narrator for ‘Mind What You Think’ by Dr Karen Graham

His solo vocal repertoire ranges from Dowland 16th century lute song, to Duke Ellington, gospel, spirituals, jazz and contemporary song books in solo recitals from Kings College Cambridge, Imperial Hotel, Tokyo and City Recital Hall, Angel Place. As a conductor/musical director/vocal arranger he has worked with London Chamber Orchestra, The Café of The Gate of Salvation Gospel Choir, Spike Lee Tribute at the Art Gallery of NSW (ViVid Festival) and  a handpicked diverse chamber voice ensemble for his sold out, genre spanning Bach In Colour project (Sydney Festival-ACO Nielsen).

A sought-after host & MC, Andrew has been guest host for ABC Classic FM’s Night Music, SSO’s pre-concert talks at Sydney Opera House as well the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney and on tour. He co-produced City Recital Hall’s 2x20 Late night Concert series with Bev Kennedy and was the host for the popular late night Thirsty Thursday cabaret at Darlinghurst Theatre Co  

Belinda Dyer is a dedicated arts leader with more than twenty years’ experience in arts and entertainment publicity. Her work is defined by a genuine passion for the arts and a deep understanding of how to connect artists and organisations with the media and build audiences.

Belinda founded Kabuku Public Relations in 2010, an agency specialising in strategic publicity campaigns for the arts and entertainment sectors. Under her leadership, Kabuku has grown into one of Australia’s most respected agencies and a trusted partner for organisations including Bangarra Dance Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Riverside Theatres, Seymour Centre, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Comedy Festival, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and National Art School, among others.

Before establishing Kabuku PR, Belinda worked on publicity campaigns for major film and home entertainment releases, across both agency and in-house publicity roles at Icon Film Distribution and Village Roadshow.

Belinda holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communications) from Western Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma of Arts Management from the Australian Institute of Music. 

Cat Dibley knows the creative sector from the inside out. Over 13 years she's produced dance, theatre, tours, and festivals for major companies across Australia, Europe, and the US, founded her own theatre company in 2011, and secured over $3.6 million through grants and partnerships. She's been published on ArtsHub, assessed grants for bodies including Create NSW, and produced everything from mainstage seasons to large-scale national tours. Cat now works as a creative business coach, arts strategist, and grant specialist, helping creative professionals build sustainable practices, navigate career transitions, develop partnerships, and get funded. 

catdibley.com

@catdibley

Director, Creative Plus Business
Monica Davidson is an award-winning expert on the creative industries. She started as a freelance writer, performer, and filmmaker, and after launching her production company, she began sharing her entrepreneurial learnings by mentoring and teaching other creatives. In 2013 she consolidated her knowledge with a Master’s degree in Screen Arts and Business from AFTRS, and shortly after was appointed as Australia’s first Creative Industries Business Advisor by the NSW Small Business Commissioner, where she was responsible for programs that developed the entrepreneurial capacity of creative practitioners and arts professionals. In 2016 Monica founded the social enterprise Creative Plus Business, a national organisation dedicated to supporting creative professionals as they develop their business skills, financial literacy, marketing strategies and wellbeing systems. Monica is a renowned panellist, teacher and speaker about creative business, arts entrepreneurialism, and cultural wellbeing. She also continues her own work, releasing her feature documentary/musical Handbag on SBS in 2023. 

Director of Engagement, Creative Plus Business
Robbi James is a producer, theatre maker, and marketing whizz who has built a portfolio career across media, business and brand development, public relations, and project management. He is a founding member and Executive Director of multi-award-winning production company Rogue Projects, where he has produced fifteen fully-staged works in Australia and internationally, and the Cannes-award winning short film Refused Classification. Before joining the Creative Plus Business leadership team he led national touring company Critical Stages Touring as its CEO, and has been a cultural consultant for organisations large and small, including the Arts Council of Korea. He is currently also the producer of Salon, the NSW arts market and conference for theatre in NSW/ACT, at Arts on Tour.

Wanyika Mshila is a Kenyan-born Australian community engagement specialist, cultural strategist and changemaker with over 15 years of experience connecting artists, institutions and communities across the arts and cultural sector. Her work focuses on audience development, cultural inclusion and building meaningful relationships with communities that have historically been underrepresented in the arts.

Wanyika has led and consulted on audience engagement initiatives for organisations including the Sydney Opera House, Belvoir, Griffin Theatre Company and Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her work includes community engagement and audience strategy for acclaimed productions such as Hot Brown Honey and Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, helping connect bold, culturally significant work with new and diverse audiences.
Known for bridging the gap between artists and audiences, she brings a practical, relationship-driven approach to audience building ,helping artists move beyond marketing alone to create genuine connection, relevance and long-term engagement with communities.

She currently sits on the Board of African Film Festival Australia and is the Community Engagement Manager at the Sydney Opera House.

@wanyikamshila