ABOUT US
BPAC BOARD – BIOS
Dr. Michael Whitehead
Chair
Dr Michael Whitehead is a professional Anesthetist and the President of Ballarat Lyric Theatre.
He sees the Ballarat Performing Arts Centre as a unique opportunity to provide a home for the many performing arts organisations of Ballarat to provide them with at-scale education, rehearsal and performance spaces.
It is also an opportunity to respectfully preserve the beautiful and historic church buildings whilst continuing their use as a place for community to gather into the future.
Jane Jens
Treasurer
Bio coming soon.
Tess Kelly
Secretary
In more recent years, Tess has been heavily involved in local musical theatre productions as a committee member of Ballarat Lyric Theatre. As a cast member in several productions, Tess enjoys being on stage however these days you will most likely find her filling various production roles and singing her heart out as a pit singer. This provides her with the best balance to lead well in education and fulfil her passion for performing.
Luke Tonkin
Board Member | Chair – Programming Sub-Committee
Luke has been involved in the local performing arts for over 35 years as an actor, writer, producer and mentor. He has worked in musicals, plays, comedy, vaudeville, music hall, puppetry and workshops.
Luke has also worked professionally in theatre, touring both in Australia and internationally.
Luke has a passion for creating theatre and jumped at the chance to be a founding member of the BPAC committee. He can’t wait to see what happens in the future of BPAC.
Matthew Heenan
Board Member
Matthew is a CCU and camera operator at the MCG and Marvel Stadiums, has worked in television and professional theatre and until recently was the Audio-Visual manager at Mercure Ballarat.
For over 40 years Matthew and Mystic Entertainmentz have enjoyed working with local directors to bring their visions to life on stage.
Matthew has worked for Ballarat Youth Theatre, National Theatre, Lyric Theatre, BLOC Theatre, BCMA, Staged by Creatives as well as Geelong theatre companies.
Matthew feels Ballarat needs a venue that’s smaller than our large theatres but isn’t locked into the limited availability of school venues.
Lyn Broadstock
Board Member
Lyn has lived in Ballarat for 8 years and been a member of the Ballarat Choral Society for the past 6 years.
Lyn’s background has been in human resource management in a variety of industries, including the Commonwealth Government, finance and the higher education sector.
She has also had management roles at The Australian Opera.
Lyn is currently the secretary of the Ballarat Choral Society, as well as being one of the founding members of Ballarat Performing Arts Community.
BPAC STAFF – BIOS
Beth Lamont
General Manager
Beth is a passionate and productive arts manager, administrator and producer. She has worked in the performing arts industry since 1999 in venue management, event management, production, lighting, sound & staging, marketing and arts admin.
She has worked behind-the-scenes and produced work in comedy clubs, festivals and theatres in Melbourne, London and Edinburgh, in over 40 different venues.
More recently in Ballarat, she has managed major events and a long-running comedy club. Beth is always working hard to contribute to the performing arts, and is loving being a part of BPAC.
Jo Kruse
Operations Manager
Jo has been involved in the performing arts for over 20 years, dedicating her time to ensure everyone who walked through the doors of Her Majesty’s Theatre, The Civic Hall and The Ballarat Mining Exchange, left having had the most incredible experience, and wanting more.
Jo’s vision for the Ballarat Performing Arts Centre is to offer a welcoming and diverse space, where hirers, patrons and the community comes together, creating memorable experiences and leaving feeling that they are all a part of something amazing.
Jo is so incredibly grateful to be Operations Manager of BPAC and cannot wait to see what happens next.
Heidi Taylor
Marketing
Heidi has a background spanning marketing, events, philanthropy, community development, business systems and as a performing musician and exhibiting visual artist.
She loves to bring this diverse experience to her work with BPAC and is incredibly passionate about supporting and strengthening the regional arts sector.
Cassandra Hiscock
Bookings & Administration
Cassandra brings a strong background in music therapy, community arts, and performance to her role at BPAC. As a Registered Music Therapist, she works in several primary schools delivering music therapy programs that support children to connect, grow, and thrive through music.
She is actively involved in Ballarat’s creative community, playing the trombone in a brass quintet, a New Orleans–style street band, pit orchestras for theatre productions, and a range of local ensembles. Her experience across these settings keeps her grounded in the values of inclusion, creativity, and community connection, supporting BPAC’s mission to grow a thriving arts community.
