Staff & Board

Judy Small AM (she/her) is a lesbian/feminist folksinger/songwriter known as the Grande Dame of Australian Folk Music whose songs are sung all over the English-speaking world at festivals, clubs and concert halls. She is also a proud 78’er having been active in the LGBTQIA+ community since 1975.  Judy worked as a lawyer for 22 years, including the last 7 as a judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, before retiring in 2020. She returned to the stage in early 2021. Judy joined the Midsumma Board in January 2019 and has served as Co-Chair since the 2019 AGM, and Chair since the 2021 AGM.

Michael Parry (he/him) is Director, Melbourne Arts Precinct at Creative Victoria. He drives development and strategy for the Victorian cultural portfolio, leading the $1.46B redevelopment of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. Previously Michael was Project Director for Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, and earlier, Deputy Director at ACMI, Melbourne. He has led strategy and major projects for a wide variety of cultural organisations across Australia and North America. Michael joined the Midsumma Board at the 2020 AGM and has served as Deputy Chair since the 2021 AGM.

Michael Fuller-Smith (he/him) has a background in corporate tax advisory and currently runs his own tax practice, advising clients across a range of industries such as technology, hospitality, and retail. He primarily assists clients with structuring, tax disputes and managing their compliance obligations. Michael is passionate about community engagement and is actively involved in a number of organisations in addition to Midsumma, including StartUps Tasmania and the Environmental Defenders Office. Michael joined the Midsumma Board in June 2018.

Rhys Cranney (he/him) is a communications, change, Communication and Impact expert passionate about inclusion, sustainability, social change, First Nations justice and the arts. With a professional background spanning across education, government, business, non-profit and politics, Rhys is excited by complexity and always seeks innovative solutions to mobilise audiences behind important causes. Rhys has worked with RMIT University, City of Greater Geelong, Pay The Rent, Victorian NAIDOC Committee and provided community-focused consulting advice to developers, politicians and global health experts. Rhys joined the Midsumma Board in 2016.

Maria has a legal background and is internationally recognised as an expert specialising in the intersections of diversity, gender equality and the law. She is the Chairperson of Safe and Equal, and a member of the Coronial Council of Victoria. Maria’s work has been instrumental in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse women’s voices in legal reform processes. In 2020 Maria was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order Of Australia for significant service to women, cultural diversity, and prevention of domestic violence. In 2017 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by the Migration Council of Australia.

Rita Nehme (she/her) is the Social Impact and Sustainability Manager at Richmond Football Club. She leads Richmond’s Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact strategies and initiatives with her Diversity and Inclusion work focusing on multiculturalism, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and people with disability.

Rita was born and raised in Lebanon and had the opportunity to live, work, and learn in the US, Jordan, India, and Australia, now calling Melbourne home. Previously, she worked with a range of not-for-profit, business, and for-purpose organisations including being Head of Operations at the Foundation for Young Australians. 

Rita is passionate about the unique power of sports, arts, and culture to create spaces of inclusion, celebration, and conversation while being catalysts for positive social and environmental change.

Rohan (he/him) is a senior corporate affairs leader with experience across corporate, not-for-profit and government organisations. He is currently Head of Advocacy, Impact & Reputation at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, overseeing corporate communications, stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility and the Club Melbourne Ambassador program, which helps attract major global events to Melbourne. Previously Rohan was Director of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Yarra Trams, and has held senior communications and marketing roles at numerous cultural organisations, most recently the Australian Museum in Sydney. Formerly a non-executive director on the Board of Critical Stages Touring, Rohan joined the Midsumma Board in August 2022.

Emily has worked for over 14 years as a mental health professional and software engineer. They are passionate about creating innovative solutions to systemic inequalities.
Emily grounds their work in their lived and living experience of mental health, disability, LGBTQIA+, homelessness, suicide, and being a young carer from a refugee and migrant background.
They were recently the Mental Health Advocate of the Year, Youth of the Year, and Young Non-Binary Person of the Year.
Emily endeavours to use both their professional and lived experience to help design a world for all people, regardless of background, identity, or intersectionality.

Jaclyn Booton (she/her) is an arts and cultural industries leader with a background across the performing arts and literary sectors. She is currently Executive Director of the Stella Prize, where she leads an annual program of initiatives that champion books and writing of women and non-binary writers. Jaclyn is passionate about supporting artists and connecting them with audiences. She joined the Midsumma Board in November 2022.