Management Committee

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.

Noel Hodda

Committee Member

Noel is a NIDA graduate and has been a proud Equity member since 1979 and has been on the ABF Committee since 2011. He has worked extensively in theatre, film, television and radio as an actor, writer and director, giving him wide first-hand experience of the vagaries and pitfalls of the Industry. He hopes his time on the Committee of the ABF will see the Fund grow and broaden its reach into the Entertainment Community.

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.

cAMILLA aH kIN

Committee Member

Graduated the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she continued study in Paris at L'ecole Internationale Du Theatre, Jacques Lecoq on a scholarship from the government of France. Later, she completed post-graduate research at the Centre for Performance Studies at the University of Sydney with her thesis “A Chance Gathering of Strays: The Australian Theatre Family” (M.A By Research). Camilla has been working across Australian film, theatre and television as a performer, professionally for what is now approaching 30 years. She has contributed as a director, dramaturge and teacher and spoken on many panels. In 2016 she was an Ambassador for the Sydney Fringe Festival. 2013-2016 Camilla was an Industrial Organiser for Equity, (Live Performance) in NSW. She continues to work as a performer and always in support of her colleagues in our precarious profession. Camilla is a proud member of Equity and a committee member of the NSW Actors Benevolent Fund.

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 a Board member of contemporary dance company De Quincey Co.

aKOS aRMONT

Committee Member

Akos graduated from NIDA and joined the MEAA in 2007. He has since worked in theatre, film and television across Australia. He is also a writer and a passionate supporter of a number of non-profit organisations. Between 2010-11, Akos was a committee member on the working group that established Clowns Without Borders Australia and also spent time working closely with several international NGOs running art therapy and theatre-in-education programs on the Thai/Myanmar border.

jACOB aLLAN

Committee Member

Jake is a WAAPA graduate and has been a member of of MEAA since 1999. He has worked as an actor throughout Australia on stage, television and film. Jake joined the ABF in 2017 with the hope of spreading the ABF message to a wider community to and ensure its longevity.

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.