Our Team. We believe it is our role to foster in young people a desire to explore, discover, invent and learn different ways of performing and provide opportunities for them to do so.

Annette Carmichael SEC-Nic_Duncan-058.jpg

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

ANNETTE CARMICHAEL - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Annette is an award-winning choreographer and creative producer who is nationally renowned as a leader of artistic teams that create large-scale performances. With an enduring commitment to the health and vitality of regional communities, Annette’s previous projects have been applauded for their collaborative approach in building strength and resilience. She has created performances that feature dance, theatre, skateboarding, rollerskating, textiles, original music and visual design. Her works have been performed in major theatres, complex outdoor sites, regional halls, basketball courts and one very famous skatepark, The Snake Run.

Most recently, Annette collaborated with ecological organisation, Gondwana Link, First Nation elders, artists and scientists to create The Stars Descend – a dance project that was performed across a 1000km wildlife corridor in southern Western Australia, in March / April 2023.

As an Arts Manager, Annette has worked for West Australian Ballet, Perth Festival, STRUT dance, Ausdance WA, Regional Arts WA, Circuitwest, PAC Australia, STEPS Youth Dance Company and Buzz Dance. Locally she has worked for Denmark Arts and Vancouver Arts Centre. She is a graduate of West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (BA Arts Man. 1996).

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

MEGAN TURPIN - GENERAL MANAGER

Megan has been a Southern Edge Arts employee since 2018 when she joined the organisation as the Finance Officer before becoming General Manager in 2019. With a background in hospitality and retail management, not for profit administration and qualifications in bookkeeping and accounting she has overseen the financial management and arts management of SEA for 6 years.

Alongside managing the delivery of SEA’s annual programs including Healthway sponsored Act Belong Commit Arts workshops, youth devised performances & community engagement programs during this time she been the project manager for 16 productions and community arts projects including; DLGSC funded The Ballad of Penelope and Marlin (2021), The Tanks(2021/2022) and My Money Matters(2022/2023), outdoor community performance Elemental (2020) and four annual Living of the Edge festivals consisting of 12 youth devised original works.

Megan is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to access the arts, as a former ‘SEA kid’ in the late 90’s she knows firsthand the positive impact participating in arts can have on a young person.

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

CASSY TURNER - CIRCUS ARTIST

Cassy has been a circus performer for 25 years. She literally ran away to join the circus in 2011, attending the National Institute of Circus Arts for formal circus and aerial arts training. Cassy currently performs and produces work for small local events as well as large productions such as Perth International Arts Festival Journey of the Giants.
With a vision that SEA is a place where creative people are told “Yes!” no matter their age or ability. She strongly believes that circus is for everybody and every body. Cassy is often dreaming up the best ways to get members crazy ideas onto thestage.

Outside of SEA, Cassy enjoys fossicking op-shops, exploring beaches, and playing
with dogs & on trampolines (although not often together). Cassy delights in sharing her creativity and passion with young people, inspiring them to express themselves through the performing arts.

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

JACKSON BURRELL - AERIAL ARTIST

Jackson joined Southern Edge Arts as a student in 2022 after moving to Albany in the same year, soon stepping into aerials classes in a teaching role. Coming from a background in capoeira, circus and community mental health work, Jackson brings with him an embodied understanding of flexibility, strength and skill based training as well as experience in act creation, performance and knowledge sharing. This has been afforded by training under many experienced teachers from Ancestrais Capoeira, Circus WA, The Circus Centre and most recently the Let It Flow meeting in Sicily.

Jackson seeks to combine person centred, body positive and mentally healthy approaches in his tutoring to find creative ways to empower his students in whatever goals, challenges and questions they bring into the room. As for his own training, you will most likely either find him upside down on the ground or in the air, exploring fun ways to move around that look somewhat like a big worm.

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

ZAK LAUNAY - STREET ACRO + CIRCUS ARTIST

Zak, a teaching artist for more than 8 years, has brought a range of new skills to the members of SEA; his talents in Capoeira (Afro-brazilian dance/acrobatic martial art) and parkour (French street gymnastics, running, climbing and jumping, known as “free running”) have been introduced into the new Street Acro program.

Zak trained for 10 years with the WA Capoeira federation under the teaching of Master Draga and Master Goioere, in many different countries including Brazil. He has also participated in a number of circus training activities including at the Lunar Circus school.

Zak has taught numerous groups of people including refugees, “at risk” youth, and children living in remote aboriginal communities.

His performance career highlights include Southern Art and Soul Festival, Brazil spectacular at Kulcha, Busselton beach festival, Fairbridge festival, Denmark markets, Albany Agricultural show, the Snake Run and the Beauty Index.

SIMON WOODWARD - THEATRE ARTIST

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

In mid 2024, internationally experienced actor and physical theatre performer, Simon Woodward joined our teaching team. Simon has toured extensively across the world and performed roles in theatre, television and film.

JODIE SEXTON - CIRCUS ARTIST

Jodie has a passion for circus and after attending classes at Southern Edge Arts became a teacher herself. Not long into her time with SEA Jodie discovered circus was in her heritage... back in the early 1800s, Louis Sentinella, one of Jodie's ancestors in Naples, Italy, was a circus performer who travelled and performed throughout Europe! Jodie's love for circus led to her creating SEA's Little Squircus classes to share circus basics and developmental benefits with the little squirts - kids aged 2-5 yrs. In Mt Barker, Jodie also runs the Wriggle, Giggle, Grow program at the library and previously she was a former Happy Feet presenter for 3 years, which was a dance/fitness class for 2-5 yr olds. Jodie is a dedicated board member at SEA and a loving mother of 4 children, and each of her little squirts have attended SEA.

MAE ELLIOTT - MARKETING & PROJECT SUPPORT

Photo credit: Nic Duncan

Mae has a diverse skill set in the arts, events, and education, and is deeply passionate about fostering a sense of belonging through community arts experiences. Growing up in Kinjarling - Albany, Mae was a participant at Southern Edge Arts, where she engaged in circus and theatre workshops and performed for over a decade. She credits her formative years at SEA for fueling her passion to continuously learn, creatively express herself, and reflect authentically on her experiences—traits that have driven her ongoing personal and professional growth. Today, Mae contributes her expertise as SEA's marketing and communications officer and is an invaluable part of the production support crew during performances.