Creative Writing and Poetry
Kimberly Gillan
Kimberly Gillan is a Melbourne journalist and features writer who specialises in human-centred stories about wellbeing, relationships, travel and modern life for publications like The Age and Marie Claire. She's a current Kingston Arts Writer in Residence, completing her debut women's fiction novel, Happy Hour, which explores female friendship during infertility.
Gen Quirk
Gen is Kingston Libraries’ Team Leader Programming and Engagement. She has worked in local government for the past 5 years, across community services and corporate projects. With a background in foreign languages, Gen is passionate about the way words, stories and language shape our identities and how we experience the world. She is based on the Mornington Peninsula where, outside of work, she can normally be found reading novels or non-fiction in the company of her staffy cross, Dexter.
Khalid Warsame
Khalid Warsame is a Visual Arts Development Officer at Casey Arts. He is also a writer and editor, with extensive experience judging major literary prizes, including the Newcastle Short Story Award, Melbourne Prize for Literature, and was a long-time judge for the annual Queensland Literary Awards. Khalid was also previously an editor for Overland Literary Journal, the Lifted Brow, and wrote a regular book review column for the Saturday Paper and ABC Arts. His essays and fiction have appeared in Meanjin, Overland Literary Journal, Cordite Poetry Review, and Liminal Review of Books. As an arts producer, Khalid's practice centres creative equity, cultural development and support for artists and communities.
Visual Arts
Michelle Merrifield
Michelle Merrifield is a South African-born, multidisciplinary artist now living and working in Dingley, Victoria.
With formal training in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, she began her creative career as an illustrator. After relocating to Australia, her practice evolved to include graphic design, freelance illustration, and teaching in both graphic design and ceramics.
Since 2019, Michelle has focused on her ceramics practice, creating expressive, textured, hand-built sculptures, decorated with stains, oxides and glazes, that explore themes of introspection, symbolism, and the natural world.
Her work was awarded the 2021 Small Sculpture Prize at the East Gippsland Art Gallery. In 2025 she was awarded and undertook a 6 month Magnify Artist in Residence program, at Kingston Arts studios.
She had her first solo exhibition, titled Here//There in 2026, at the G3 Gallery in Parkdale where she exhibited a new collection of sculptural works.
Miriam La Rosa
Dr. Miriam La Rosa is a Sicily-born, Naarm-based curator, researcher, and award-winning writer with over fifteen years’ experience in the arts. Her practice explores art residencies, alternative histories, and emerging interdisciplinary approaches to curating. Since 2024, she has been Arts Curator at Greater Dandenong City Council, leading exhibitions and programs across its cultural precinct. She holds a PhD in Art History and Curatorship from the University of Melbourne (2023). Miriam has developed projects internationally and previously worked at Agency Projects supporting Indigenous-led initiatives. She is co-founder of the Art Residency Research Collective and has contributed widely to curatorial and academic publications.
Lisa Douglas
Lisa Douglas is an experienced Visual Arts specialist who teaches across primary schools, bringing creativity, curiosity, and connection into every learning space. With a background in applied art and years of experience in graphic design, she offers students a rich and authentic approach to making and understanding art.
Lisa is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging classrooms where all students feel confident to explore, experiment, and express themselves. She designs dynamic visual arts programs aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, with a strong focus on skill development, creative thinking, and meaningful real-world connections.
In her leadership role, Lisa champions sustainability, community engagement, and First Nations perspectives. She is committed to fostering a culture of respect, belonging, and environmental responsibility, helping students see their role in shaping a positive future.
Lisa values strong relationships with students and the wider school community, believing that connection is at the heart of powerful learning. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, embracing creative pursuits, and finding joy in everyday moments.