Our People
Darien J Sticklen – Director
Darien is fortunate to have gained a unique richness of experience in the Arts, festivals and events realm.
He has taken leading roles in the creative and producing teams for major music theatre projects ranging from international co-productions of opera to intimate cabaret, and has produced and directed spectacular events and live-to-air telecasts in theatres, sports stadiums and unusual venues around Australia and overseas.
Educated at St James’s College, Brisbane and the University of Queensland, his early career was as stage manager, director and performer with Twelfth Night (TN) Theatre and Queensland Theatre Company and then in theatre and television in Sydney.
Joining the operation team of the Arts Centre in Melbourne shortly after its opening, for over seven years he worked closely with most of Australia’s major performing arts companies and thousands of international artists and presenters.
In 1992 he established his own firm and has since overseen the production of many outstanding events.
Highlights include: producing Melbourne’s Millennium Eve Celebrations for a live audience of 750,000; the L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (annually since 1997); Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (annually since 2004); consulting on Arts and Cultural Programs for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Federation Square, the Arts Centre, and Museums Victoria; the opening of the National Sports Museum at the M.C.G; the Alfred Deakin Lectures since 2001; and the International Congress of the History of Art (CIHA) for the University of Melbourne.
He sits on a number of arts-related boards and panels and is an Ambassador for Victorian Opera, Board Chair for BalletLab Inc. and is a long-time member of Theatre Heritage Australia. His firm was a foundation Gold Patron of Melbourne Museum and in 2003 was appointed to the City of Melbourne’s Panel of Consultants for Arts and Culture Project Management.
Darien’s work demonstrates a strong commitment to building community by creating platforms for meaningful public celebration and a deep belief in the power of the arts to enrich our lives. He is a Graduate Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program with Leadership Victoria, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
James S.H. Nam – Creative Production Manager
James holds a Bachelor of Arts in Recording Arts from Middlesex University, School of Audio Engineering (SAE), Prahran, Victoria.
James’ academic and work experience demonstrate an ability to critically analyze technical problems, to work under pressure and to demanding time lines and meet required deadlines. He has well developed skills in managing and training others and has maintained and improved his own personal skills by attending post graduate training and development workshops. Skills acquired include advanced AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel and Word processing, cost analysis, problem solving, customer relations, staff supervision, project management and technical problem solving skills, and James has applied these to deliver at some of Australia’s largest iconic sporting and conference venues.
James spent the first part of 2010 in Vancouver, Canada, working with international Audio-Engineering company NorWest. There he took a key role in the production team for the main stage in BC Stadium for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the XXI Olympiad: the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
He was Creative Production Manager and Technical Director for the Melbourne Awards Gala Ceremony 2010, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2010, Asia Pacific Design Triennial 2010, and took a leading role in AEMA’s delegation to Shanghai Fashion Week 2010 for the Victorian State Government.
In 2011, James has already overseen production for Audi Victoria Week and Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta, the Afghan Spice Banquet for Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, and was Production Manager for the 2011 L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Angus Macpherson – Production Coordinator
Angus graduated with a Bachelor of Production from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), University of Melbourne. He also holds a Diploma of both Event and Tourism Management.
Originally from Warrnambool, Angus’ career to date has evolved from the theatre and performing arts, as a Stage Manager and Musical Director, into event and production management.
Since 2008, Angus has held the position of Programming and Production Manager for the nationally acclaimed Fun4Kids Festival, produced by the Warrnambool City Council. Fun4Kids is Australia’s largest children’s festival comprising 2.5 hectares of entertainment and activities over an 8 day period each year. Angus’ responsibilities include program development and planning, production management and design, and liaison between performers, local government partners, contractors and Festival staff. His responsibilities also include travel and accommodation logistics for over 200 performers and crew.
Angus joined AEMA as Production Assistant in early 2010 on secondment from the VCA as part of his final year of study. Since then he has worked with AEMA on a major event for Leadership Victoria and has taken the role of Production Coordinator for L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2011. He also managed production logistics for Audi Victoria Week and was Production Coordinator for the Afghan Spice Banquet at the 2011 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Virginia Withers – Project Manager
Virginia holds a BA in Fine Arts from Curtin University and a BA in Arts Management from the WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University.
After completing her second degree in 2003, Virginia took on the role of Office Administrator with the Academy of Contemporary Music, worked in the Arts and Cultural Development division of the City of Perth, and in the sponsorship area for Perth International Arts Festival.
From 2006, Virginia was Event and Sponsorship Coordinator for Perth Fashion Festival for three years, with responsibilities including sponsorship and business development, marketing and communications, and stakeholder liaison including Designers, Government partners and Festival staff. Her duties also extended to coordination of the Festival’s Volunteer Program and involvement in their Cultural program.
She has held the position of Visual Arts Officer for the City of Joondalup in Western Australia, coordinating the city’s substantial visual arts program, including the project management of two major public art exhibitions. In this role she developed and maintained strategic relationships with major regional stakeholders as well as other event industry and arts professionals, and prepared publications, press releases, advertisements, programs and market research in support of project development.
Virginia joined AEMA in early 2010 and has since taken the role of Project Manager for the Alfred Deakin Lectures, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, Audi Victoria Week, and Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta. In 2011, Virginia has been the Account Manager for L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival.