Staff & Board

Michael Parry (he/him) is Director, Melbourne Arts Precinct at Creative Victoria. He drives development and strategy for the Victorian cultural portfolio, leading the $1.46B redevelopment of the Melbourne Arts Precinct.

Previously Michael was Project Director for Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, and earlier, Deputy Director at ACMI, Melbourne. He has led strategy and major projects for a wide variety of cultural organisations across Australia and North America. Michael joined the Midsumma Board at the 2020 AGM and has served as Deputy Chair since the 2021 AGM.

Mitchell Ajduk (he/him) has over 14 years’ experience providing risk and assurance services to support organisations in private and not-for-profit sectors. Mitchell has worked across multiple industries including professional services, utilities and education and places a strong emphasis on improving risk management and operational practices to support organisational growth.

He is currently a senior leader at CPA Australia where he is the Strategic Project Lead and has a strong focus on strategy design and execution to maximise member and customer experiences. He has a Bachelor of Social Science and Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and is a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant and a Chartered Accountant. He is currently studying his Master of Business Administration at Melbourne Business School. Mitchell joined the Midsumma Board in 2024.

Rhys Cranney (he/him) is a communications, change, Communication and Impact expert passionate about inclusion, sustainability, social change, First Nations justice and the arts. With a professional background spanning across education, government, business, non-profit and politics, Rhys is excited by complexity and always seeks innovative solutions to mobilise audiences behind important causes.

Rhys has worked with RMIT University, City of Greater Geelong, Pay The Rent, Victorian NAIDOC Committee and provided community-focused consulting advice to developers, politicians and global health experts. Rhys joined the Midsumma Board in 2016.

Jen Elmer is a marketing and communications expert with a diverse professional background spanning government, consumer goods, and prestige global brands; specialising in strategic communications, brand marketing and audience engagement, with expertise spanning digital, content creation, publicity, events and stakeholder management.
Jen holds a Master of Marketing and has worked with a range of organisations including City of Port Phillip, City of Casey, LVMH Watch & Jewellery, The Swatch Group, and Hunter Douglas. A committed supporter of live music and the arts, Jen has extensive experience working with major festivals, events and venues such as St Kilda Festival, St Kilda Film Festival and Bunjil Place.

An active volunteer in Victoria’s LGBTIQA community, Jen has played a key role in producing the Victorian Pride Awards since 2021, and joined the Midsumma Board in 2024.

TQ Quirk (by name) is a values-led, next generation leader specialising in strategic, commercial and operational leadership for large scale festivals across Australia and North America.

TQ has held senior leadership roles with global comedy producer Just for Laughs, overseeing the strategy, planning and delivery of the Group’s Canadian festival portfolio during a period of significant renewal. Prior to this, TQ worked across many of Australia’s leading cultural organisations, including MICF, MIFF, MQFF, MIAF and Brisbane Festival.

TQ champions the role festivals play at the intersection of community, culture and commerce, and the development of innovative, sustainable models to ensure their ongoing relevance and impact. TQ is a committed advocate for trans and non-binary leadership, championing the transformative impact of these voices in building equitable and future facing cultural organisations.

Enrico Burgio (he/him) is an experienced public policy and advocacy professional and lawyer with extensive experience in strategy, policy development, thought leadership and stakeholder and government relations. His experience encompasses industry superannuation and financial services, government roles and legal practice in the private sector.
Enrico is currently General Manager, Public Policy & Advocacy at Rest Super, overseeing public policy, regulatory affairs and advocacy activities and strategic engagement with government and other stakeholders. Prior to working in senior roles with the Victorian Government, Enrico was a senior employment and industrial relations lawyer with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. He has served on a number of not-for-profit and community sector boards.

Sarah Geistendor (she/her) has over 15 years experience in risk and governance roles across organisations in financial services and global manufacturing. She is passionate about designing people centred, fit-for-purpose frameworks to support businesses to achieve their strategic objectives with healthy risk taking. Sarah is currently the Head of Risk at MIPS, a not-for-profit providing medical indemnity insurance to healthcare practitioners in Australia. Sarah previously held similar roles in other financial service institutions and internal audit roles in consulting and manufacturing organisations.

She holds a Bachelor of Business (Economics) from La Trobe University and a Master of Business Administration from Melbourne Business School. Sarah is a member and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Sarah joined the Midsumma Board in 2025.

Geoffrey (he/him) is a People and Culture leader with experience in senior and executive roles across corporate, professional services, law, and the arts. He has worked in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including at Arts Centre Melbourne, PwC, and as Head of People & Culture for a national Australian law firm. Geoffrey formerly served as Deputy Chair of the Board of Polyglot Theatre.
Recognised for leadership and impact with an Excellence in People Award and Individual Achievement Award in 2024, Geoffrey brings a dynamic approach to HR leadership, driving organisational performance and cultural transformation.

Geoffrey’s involvement with Midsumma began as an independent producer, the Festival has been formative to his sense of pride and he is deeply humbled to contribute as a member of the Board. He is Chair of our People & Culture Committee.

Cuong is a senior marketing and fundraising leader with experience building brands, driving audience engagement, and delivering commercial and community impact across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. He has held leadership roles with organisations including Cancer Council Victoria, MTV, NBCUniversal, ESPN, and E! Networks. 

Growing up in Los Angeles as a child of refugee parents, his personal journey shaped his passion for the power of community, visibility, and belonging. While studying at the University of California, Berkeley, he co-founded an Asian Pacific American magazine and launched a tutoring program for local high school students. He brings notable experience in marketing, fundraising, media, partnerships, and digital engagement to the Midsumma Festival Board, alongside a commitment to inclusion, representation, and advocacy.

Britt is a senior marketing and brand leader with 20 years experience across sport, entertainment, culture and major events in Australia and the UK. 

Most recently, Britt served as Head of Event Brand Marketing at Tennis Australia, where she helped lead the growth and evolution of the AO and Tennis Australia’s broader events portfolio. Her work has focused on building culturally relevant brands, growing audiences, creating more inclusive experiences and turning major events into platforms that connect with people well beyond the moment itself. 

Across her career, Britt has held senior roles across leading creative agencies and major organisations in Australia and the UK, working with some of the world’s most recognised brands across sport, retail, finance, travel, telecommunications and entertainment. 

Britt is a proud ally with a deep passion for building community and creating experiences that bring people together. She believes arts, culture and live events have a unique power to foster connection, celebrate difference and create spaces where everyone feels seen, welcomed and able to belong. 

Alex is a corporate lawyer specialising in startups, venture capital and high-growth businesses. He is currently a Senior Lawyer at LUNA, where he supports founders and investors to build, finance and scale purpose-driven ventures.

Alexander is currently Chair of the Board of Minus18 Foundation and a Board Member of Southside Justice, bringing extensive experience in governance, strategy and community leadership across the LGBTQIA+ and not-for-profit sectors. Previously, he held board roles at Liberty Victoria and the Rights Advocacy Project. He holds a Master of Law and Finance from the University of Oxford, where he attended as a General Sir John Monash Scholar, as well as First Class Honours degrees in law and design. Alexander is passionate about the transformative role of arts and culture in fostering queer expression, connection and social change.

Alexander joined the Midsumma board in 2026. 

Kergen is drawn to Midsumma's enduring role in advancing LGBTQIA+ rights and belonging, and to its place in Victoria's cultural fabric. A company secretary and board director, he is a Non-Executive Director of Brown's Mart Arts in Darwin, where he chairs the Governance & Nominations Committee, and has held governance roles with youth and community service organisations, specialising in engaging communities in decision-making that affects them. His career spans health, education, philanthropy and creative arts across Australia and the Asia Pacific, and he is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, currently completing his MBA at Melbourne Business School.