Our People
The People Behind the Ideas
Every dangerous idea needs brave people willing to set it free. Different roles, same obsession: creating space for the conversations the world needs to have.
Ideas don’t happen in a vacuum, they are teased out by listening, debating and sharing. Our wider circle of contributors, helpers, and brainstormers make their mark, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Meet the team and contributors who pull it all together.
The Festival Team
Danielle Harvey
FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
SUPPORTED BY BILL MANOS AND MANOS FOUNDATION
Danielle Harvey is a curator, creative producer and director who creates layered programs that connect deeply with audiences. A true polymath, Danielle’s work spans art forms and ideas. She has held senior programming and executive roles across many iconic institutions, including Sydney Opera House, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Bundanon and is the creative behind popular immersive experiences A Midnight Visit and Eternityland. She is the founder of many festivals including BingeFest, Make Good and Antidote, co-founder of All About Women, and Executive Producer of acclaimed podcasts It’s A Long Story and Little Bad Thing. She is currently Artistic Director of Dancing Giant Productions and Festival Director of Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
Simon Longstaff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE ETHICS CENTRE
Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, a role he continues today. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Adjunct Professor of the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW Sydney, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
Jerome Comisari
FIRST NATIONS CURATORIAL ADVISOR
Jerome Comisari is a Wiradjuri man from the Riverina who grew up on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country. He has a passion for the arts and has championed the work and practice of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives and cultural practitioners. Previously Jerome held various jobs at the ABC, including with Radio National’s Indigenous Arts and Culture program, Awaye!. He has also worked in politics as a Media Advisor, communicating with various stakeholders at the local, state and federal level. Jerome currently works at Bundanon as the Cultural Liaison Manager where he is continuing to support and promote the aspirations of Aboriginal people and communities.
Team
Bernadette Bateman, Director of Finance & Operations, The Ethics Centre
Lauren Bennett, Senior Producer
Aaron Cornelius, Ticketing & Guest Coordinator
Tim Dean, Philosopher in Residence, Manos Chair in Ethics, The Ethics Centre
Kathleen Evesson, Director of Engagement, The Ethics Centre
Daniel Finlayson, Youth Engagement Coordinator, The Ethics Centre
Sam Hawker, Operations Manager
Jess Lewis, Content & Communications Manager, The Ethics Centre
Sophia Marinos, Artistic Projects Producer
Sabrina Organo, Special Projects Producer
Niki Tamp, Campaign Manager
Cecelia Thai, Engagement Coordinator, The Ethics Centre
Cam Turnbull, Digital Marketing Manager, The Ethics Centre
Katie Vajda, Partnerships Manager
Dplr, orbit, Production & Technical
Common State, Public Relations
Governance
Festival of Dangerous Ideas Ltd Board
Richard Evans
Danielle Harvey
Simon Longstaff
Ann Mossop
THANK YOU
Thankyou to our circle of collaborators
Cecily Hardy, Bec Blake, Michelle Walter, Nathan Luff, Sophie O’Brien, Alex Green, Hilary Altes, Genevieve Dugard & Create Justice, Hamish Macdonald, Natasha Mitchell, Ben Law, Bill Manos, Patrick Abboud, Emily Jateff, Lisa Cole, Travis DeVries, Tegan Redinbaugh, Uri Windt, Ilona Lee, Matt Beard, Fergus & Andrew & Adrian & Chantel from Carriageworks, Tim & Lucy from Heaps Normal, Pasquale Vaccarella, Matthew Crawford from Crawford Casting, Al Cossar & Melbourne International Film Festival, Andy & Liz from dplr, ORBIT, Production & Technical, Alice & Caroline from Common State, Patrick McIntyre & National Film and Sound Archive, Kim McKay & Australian Museum, Lisa Loader from State Library of NSW, Michael Dagastino from Chau Chak Wing Museum, Annette Pitman & Museums of History NSW, Simon Duffy & Botanic Gardens, Laura Ramos & Primary Ethics and our publishing industry colleagues.
Final big thanks to our colleagues from The Ethics Centre Wendy Agostino, Aubrey Blanche, Joseph Dickson, Kristin Gartrell, Adriana Kowal, John Neil and The Ethics Centre Board
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.