Lisa is a motivated and innovative cultural leader, creative thinker, producer, and director. Her work is inspired, politically engaged, embedded in community, and drives inclusivity in the arts and cultural sector.
Most recently, as Festival Producer, she played a key role at Sydney WorldPride delivering WorldPride Arts, WorldPride Sports and Pride Amplified, the three programs that accompanied the major events. This included 400+ queer arts, culture, community, sports and party activations, platforming those who are traditionally under-represented in festival contexts, on a scale never seen before in Australia.
She is the founder and director of Freshwater Entertainment + Management (FEMPresents), producing work the celebrates diversity. Highlights includes Butch at Sydney Town Hall, the storytelling events My Trans Story and My Drag Story which have been presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the Sydney Opera House and Brisbane Powerhouse, Women Speak, The Sappho Show (with Kim Sheehy) and Cassie Workman’s award-winning Giantess.
Lisa has an extensive track record as a director and producer of live events of all scale. From one-person cabarets and independent new musicals to charity concerts and commercial productions.
Most notably for The Theatre Division she co-produced Nick Enright and Max Lambert’s Miracle City at the Sydney Opera House, co-produced and directed Thai-riffic!, an adaptation of Oliver Phommavanh’s bestselling book for young people, at Monkey Baa Theatre, The Seymour Centre and Riverside Theatres and the critically acclaimed, award-winning production of Ruthless! The Musical staring Katrina Retallick and Geraldine Turner.
From 2004- 2008 she was the live show director for the multi-award-winning Australian cast and the Emmy nominated American cast of the children’s group Hi-5. This included performances at the Nokia Theatre on Broadway, arena tours throughout Australia, NZ, Singapore, American & the UK and multiple live performances including Movie World, regional tours, appearances and international launches.
She studied with Keith Bain OAM at NIDA, where she completed a Graduate Diploma in Movement Studies after graduating from the University of New South Wales, Theatre.
She has served on the Aurora Group and Trans Pride Australia boards.
