John Gregg
Chairman
John is a graduate of NIDA. His early work included the TV series “Contrabandits” and “Delta” for ABC-TV and two seasons for MTC. He went to London and spent two years with the Royal National Theatre. TV there included “Disraeli” (Lord Salisbury), “Dr.Who”, and “The Glittering Prizes”. Back in Australia, for ABC-TV, “The Oracle”, and theatre work for, STC, MTC, QTC, SATC, Malthouse, Ensemble, and Bell Shakespeare Co. He has also worked in musical theatre, in the Victoria State Opera’s production of My Fair Lady, How To Succeed In Business for GFO, and Threepenny Opera for SATC. Mini-series on TV include, “Bodyline”, “Captain James Cook” as Sir Joseph Banks, “The Thredbo Story”, “Grass Roots”, “Jessica” and “Darwin’s Brave New World” alongside guest roles in “Rake” “Crownies”, and “Old School”. He works extensively as a voice-over artist, and has recorded 5 novels for ABC radio. He is a proud member of Actors Equity, and a Committee Member of Actors Benevolent Fund since 2008.
GLenn Hazeldine
Deputy Chair
A proud Novocastrian, Glenn moved to Sydney for training and graduated from the NIDA acting course in 1994. He has worked in TV, film, radio and has performed extensively in theatres across the city and nationwide in both the subsidised and independent sectors. Glenn joined the management committee of the ABF in December of 2010 and is also the Vice-President of the NSW branch of Actors Equity. Glenn is a passionate advocate for the improved well-being of his fraternity and encourages all of his colleagues to support their charity.
Laura Gabriel
Treasurer
Laura has worked as an actor in theatre, television, film, radio and voice-overs, both here and in the UK. In recent years she has specialised in voice-over work for corporate videos, documentaries, animation and radio and TV commercials. Between acting jobs Laura has also worked as Appointments Secretary for the Lord Mayor of Sydney and headed the City of Sydney’s Correspondence Unit. Laura is a third generation member of Actors Equity after her father Ben and grandmother Ethel, both of whom strongly believed in the union’s importance in improving performers’ rights and conditions and supporting those in need. Laura is proud to have served on the ABF Committee since early 2014.
Camilla Rountree
Secretary, Event Producer, Public Officer
Camilla has worked in theatre, film and television as an actor and costume designer. From 1994 to 1999 she was Producer of Foundation Events and Associate Producer for Sydney Theatre Company. She has produced large events including the opening of Luna Park Sydney, was Associate Producer for international touring productions, and wrote and toured her own work to Edinburgh Festival and Germany. From 2003 she was the Producer for Riverside Theatres where she programmed and developed, produced and toured productions of new work. In 2016 for NAISDA Dance College she produced the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Camilla is a member of AWG.
ANTHONY PHELAN
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Anthony has worked in theatre, film, and television for 35 years, and has been a committee member of the Actors Benevolent Fund of NSW for five of those years. He has performed for every major theatre Company in Australia, in every State and Territory, and has also had the pleasure of showcasing Australian theatre Internationally. Throughout his career he has always been aware, and humbled, by the generosity of fellow actors to their peers, and especially humbled by audiences who also care very deeply about the wellbeing of their actors. He asks that you give generously whenever you feel the need, not only will you make an actor’s life that little easier in times of hardship and illness, but you will also make the job of the volunteer committee members of the ABF NSW that more rewarding in administering your generosity. Thank you.
bRUCE sPENCE
Committee Member
Bruce is a proud member of Actor’s Equity and a recent addition to the ABF Committee. He was an originating member of the Australian Performing Group (APG) and has worked across Australia for many years in theatre, film and television. Highlights include Endgame, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Secret River, Under Milk Wood, The White Devil, & Macbeth for STC, A Servant of Two Masters, Twelfth Night, Journey’s End, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Richard III for MTC, alongside work for Griffin and Belvoir Theatres and the musicals Les Miserables, Big River and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He is one of the best known faces of Australian and International film with credits spanning from Stork and The Cars That Ate Paris to The Matrix Revolutions, Lord Of The Rings 3 and Pirates Of The Caribbean.
mICHAEL hUXLEY
Committee Member
Michael Huxley is a Sydney based arts administrator. Previous positions include: General Manager for Marian St Theatre, Project Manager for Ensemble Productions, Deputy General Manager for Australian Theatre for Young People, Administrator - Australian National Playwrights Centre and is currently the General Manager for Museums and Galleries of NSW. Michael has extensive knowledge in governance, financial management, strategic planning and project management. He has worked as a guest or regular lecturer/tutor at Sydney Conservatorium, NIDA - Open Program, Q Theatre, UNSW and Australian Institute of Music - Dramatic Arts. He was the founding Chair of the In the Pipeline/Hayes Theatre Company and The Shakespeare Globe Centre Australia, served on the Oz Showbiz Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS committee and is currently General Manager of Hot House Theatre Company.
WILLIAM ZAPPA
COMMITTEE MEMBER
William Zappa has worked extensively in film, theatre and television for over fifty years and has built a solid reputation as an outstanding actor. William has an impressive list of feature film credits including Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, Broke, Dead Europe, Mad Max 2: Road Warrior, Bootmen, Head On, A Heartbeat Away, Redd Inc, Quigley Down Under and the unforgettable Men’s Group. He has also guest starred in many tv series and has a long and enviable list of credits to his theatrical career.
William has also written two plays , Winter’s Discontent and The Greening of Grace as well as a nine hour adaptation of Homer’s Iliad which featured in this years’ Sydney Festival playing to sold out houses at Belvoir Street.
SEAN CLARKE
Committee Member
Sean has been at Riverside Theatres since 1989 and is currently the Technical Co-Ordinator. Before working at Riverside he worked for the Gordon Frost Organisation on Big River and for Cameron Mackintosh on ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and the 10th Anniversary production of ‘Les Miserables’. Sean was the Production Manager for the Rob Guest Endowment Concert. In 2000 he was the Production Manager for the Charity Opening of the Sydney Superdome. Sean is a member of the board with the Association of Community Theatre and is also currently the President of the NSW / ACT Technical Managers Network Sean is passionate about ABF and was the lighting designer and technical support for both Cause Celeb events.
valerie bader
Committee Member
An actor whose career spans more than forty years, Valerie has worked extensively across all performance disciplines. Notwithstanding her considerable film and television credits, Valerie is perhaps best known for her theatre work – having performed with all of the major theatre companies (and even more of the minor ones). She is especially remembered in Sydney for her many appearances with the Biggins/Forsythe/Scott Wharf Revue team. Valerie has been an active member of Equity since 1972, and previously served on the ABF committee in the early 1990s. In recent years, Valerie has enjoyed mentoring young performers as they negotiate the early stages of their careers. She is a passionate advocate for them; and is proud to instil in them a strong regard for themselves, their industry, and their union.
Jamie Oxenbould
Committee Member
Jamie has been an actor for over 30 years and has worked for most of the major theatre companies in Sydney including Griffin, Bell Shakespeare, STC and Ensemble Theatre. He has appeared on TV shows including Secret City 2, My Place and as a Playschool Presenter. He has worked consistently in the voice-over industry voicing commercials as well as characters for many animations. In 2012 he wrote and performed the one man show The Spearcarrier at the Ensemble Theatre. He has written for many comedy and reality programs and written and directed short films that screened at major film festivals.
Kenneth Moraleda
Committee Member
Kenneth Moraleda is and actor, writer and director of Filipino descent. He trained at NIDA graduating in 1995. He is a familiar face in music theatre with roles in major musicals including Muriels Wedding- The Musical and The Lion King. He has appeared in drama for companies including Belvoir, STC and Ensemble as well as the Australian tour of War Horse and roles in several feature films. He worked with Playwriting Australia’s 200 Stories High National Outreach program and was a participant in Performance 4a and PWA’s Lotus First Draft - an initiative developing Asian-Australian playwrights He is also a Director and is currently part of the STC/CAAP Directing Initiative.