Our People

Bianca Durrant has joined Experimenta as Managing Director, and brings 20 years’ experience in the arts sector to bear for the organisation. As an authentic leader with a focus on working collaboratively to achieve outcomes, Bianca has developed a professionalised approach to her leadership informed by leading small arts organisations, producing and curating the work of leading Australian and international artists and consulting across the sector in strategy, diversity initiatives and funding.

Holding masters qualifications in fine arts, and bringing a strong business acumen rounded by leadership training from Oxford, Bianca approaches the eco-system of the arts sector to look for ways to bring people and organisations together to deliver what is needed most – with great care for artists and a developmental approach for the sector. She has extensive experience creating teams both within and across sectors, involving government, industry, researchers and creatives, with a passion for using art as a platform to create community dialogue around critical global issues. Previous roles include General Manager, Liquid Architecture, where she secured inaugural organisational funding and diversification (gender) strategies for the Board, staff and programming; Gallery Manager for Faculty Gallery (now MADA Gallery) Monash University; and board roles in the visual arts with CAVES Inc. and KINGS ARI. Bianca is based between Naarm (Melbourne) and Bundjalung Country (Northern NSW). 

Lubi Thomas is an experienced digital and new media curator whose work has significantly contributed to the cultural landscape over the past 20 years through exhibitions, projects, festivals, and transdisciplinary programming.

She has developed cultural policy models for precincts, councils, and institutions, collaborating with global organisations like LEGO Education and Ars Electronica to establish spaces and opportunities for artists to develop and present work. With over forty exhibitions, many touring nationally and internationally, Lubi has extensive experience. Her focus lies at the intersection of Art, Technology, Science, and Society, enabling her to engage with contemporary practice addressing environmental and societal issues. Lubi’s adaptable approach has allowed her to successfully present projects in traditional galleries and unconventional spaces.

Her key tenet is that Art is a language of ideas, through which she aims to present contemporary Art that ignites emotional and intellectual responses within the broader community. Lubi works and consults locally, nationally, and internationally, including with Experimenta since 2013. Lubi is based in Quadamoka Country.

Jo commenced her accounting career with Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants (E&Y), after completing a Bachelor of Commerce at University of Melbourne.
After leaving E&Y to travel, Jo returned to Melbourne and worked in financial positions with a number of advertising agencies including George Patterson Bates. Jo then took up a role as Business and Finance Manager with art gallery and consultancy, Australian Art Resources (AAR). After returning from maternity leave, Jo managed AAR’s art rental business, The Art Trust, before joining the Experimenta team in 2006.

Santana is a digital marketer, content strategist, and freelance writer with over 15 years’ experience crafting content that educates, entertains, and inspires. She can be found doing anything from running a large international content team or developing campaign messaging to writing punchy web copy or sharpening a social media strategy.

She has worked in content and marketing for some of Australia’s biggest brands – including Jetstar and Australian Unity – and has contracted with digital agencies across Australia and Europe specialising in SEO, content marketing, and content creation.

Over the years, Santana has developed an appreciation for the positive impact of customer-focused storytelling in marketing contexts. While specialising in content, she is a skilled marketing all-rounder. In fact, she considers being a marketing all-rounder as her superpower when it comes to creating content.

Throughout her career, she’s also had a side-hustle freelancing in the arts sector, developing content for – and providing marketing support to – actors, musicians, music venues, and not-for-profit arts and music organisations across countless projects.

Santana believes that storytelling, in all its forms, has the power to build a better world – something she plans to keep working towards one project at a time.