ACCESSIBILITY IN THE ARTS:

She/Her

PANELLIST

Ana Maria Belo graduated from NIDA and went on to carve an eclectic career for herself. She’s been nominated for Green Room and Sydney Theatre Critics awards, and won a Glug award for Tribes and a Tropfest award for Things to Do. Ana Maria toured Australia in hit musicals Fame and Hair, and was set to appear in 9 to 5 the Musical before COVID-19. Theatre credits: The Listmaker (Bell Shakespeare), Noises Off, Tribes (Ensemble Theatre), Dr Akars Women (Griffin Theatre), Snugglepot & Cuddlepie (Company B), the Australian tour of Steel Magnolias, and the world premiere of Fawlty Towers Live. Ana Maria is also a filmmaker and produced, wrote and directed the short films Things to do, Magic Words and The Kid’s Table. Ana Maria is a proud ambassador for the Shepherd Centre that teaches deaf children to listen and speak.

He/Him

PANELLIST

My name is Michael Chan and I’m 37 years old. While I currently live in Geelong, I was actually born in Swan Hill in Northwestern Victoria and my cultural heritage is Chinese. Besides working within the hospitality industry, I kept myself active in connection within the community setting and activities such as attending community choirs, being part of disability advisory committees, even I got into acting (Film/TV), theatre and performing arts with Back to Back Theatre. My acting and extra experience I have was through Back to Back Theatre, based in Geelong VIC, where I both performed the production of The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes (which toured the world) and appeared as an extra in the short film called Oddlands.

He/Him

PANELLIST

Daniel Graham has attended Director's Labs in Chicago and LA, as well as a Directing Residency at Atlantic Theater Company in NYC. He is involved in the Darlinghurst Theatre Artists Program (where he served as dramaturge on All My Sons, Dir. Iain Sinclair) and The Directors Program at The National Theatre of Parramatta. In 2018, Daniel was invited to the Future Leaders Program (The Australia Council for the Arts) and was granted a Create NSW Fellowship to do research in England & Scotland. Daniel advocates for Artists with Neuro-Diverse Disabilities, was Co-Chair of MEAA’s Artists With A Disability Committee, and was recently announced as a finalist in the National Awards for Disability Leadership 2020.

He/Him

PANELLIST

Sam Martin is an alumni of the Australian Film TV and Radio School with an aspiring passion for creating and supporting diversity within arts, media and performance spaces. Identifying as Queer and Hard of Hearing/Deaf, Sam's art practice explores the contradicting and intersectionality of identity, including his own, hoping to create discussion and encourage others to do the same. Last year his show Sam I Am was his debut work as a writer/performer for the stage.

He/Him

MODERATOR

Brandon is the Artistic Director for Antipodes Theatre Company. Melbourne credits: GhostQuartet, #Really?! with Mel andPeppy, Bowie Ball,Mad World, From: New York, For: Him.NYC credits: the world premieres of Only You Can Prevent Wildfires, Happily After Ever (also Edinburgh Fringe), and Gordy Crashes for RicochetCollective (which he also co-founded)and several projects as resident producer with The Orchard Project andThe Drama League. Favorite directing credits include The Last Five Years, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Shape of Things, and Big Love. @midwestrunaway