UPLIT is excited to announce Ann McLean has joined the team as Acting Chief Executive Officer for 2018, overseeing the organisation’s programs and events including the annual Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF).
Ann is a life-long learner and holds science degrees and a Master of Arts and Creative Industries Management. She identifies first as a creative producer, working alongside individual creatives to achieve their goals. Ann drives the success of arts organisations, deftly managing people and projects, the results of which are felt long after they have been delivered.
Previously, as Executive Director of Ausdance Queensland from 2011 to 2015, Ann’s role was that of business manager, enterprise developer, producer, advocate and coach. As Topology’s General Manager from 2009 to 2011, Ann shaped the brand, repositioned the organisation and consolidated its education and touring programs. As Marketing Coordinator for Flying Arts, Ann strengthened her affinity for regional cultural communities.
Ann’s passion for mentoring creative practitioners was developed in production and education roles at Queensland Newspapers, Griffith University, and publishing a monthly youth subculture magazine in the 90s.
Ann will be a delightful and valued addition to the UPLIT team, bringing her love of the arts, and a firm belief of the impact of creative minds within the communities they engage with, to UPLIT’s various programs.
Some of the programs Ann will be overseeing as CEO include Love YA, a standalone day of festivities celebrating young adult literature in May; BWF, which returns to the State Library of Queensland in September; and development surrounding Angel’s Palace, the immersive literary experience inspired by Alexis Wright’s novel Carpentaria, which debuted at BWF 2017.
Ann’s tenure is taking place while UPLIT’s current Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer Zoe Pollock is on maternity leave. Ann will be working alongside Guest Artistic Director, Carl Lindgren, who is overseeing the curation of BWF this year.
BWF 2018 will take place from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 September, with the full program revealed and on-sale in early July. Subscribe to our eNews now to stay up-to-date with program announcements and other bookish news.