Funding Creatively

Rick Heath, Executive Director, The Chamber of Arts and Culture WA

Rick Heath is a cultural executive, strategist and advocate with more than 30 years’ experience across Australia’s not-for-profit arts and cultural sector, spanning producing, presenting, industry development, advocacy, cultural planning and organisational leadership.

He is currently Executive Director of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, where he leads work to strengthen public support, political influence and sustained investment in arts and culture.

Rick previously spent 12 years as Executive Director of Performing Arts Connections Australia, working with presenters, producers, venues and communities across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia. His career has also included roles with Sydney Opera House, Perth Festival, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Big hART, Tura and Community Arts Network.

Through his proprietary limited company Push Management, Rick consulted extensively with local governments and cultural organisations on strategy, organisational development and cultural planning.

A DeVos Institute of Arts Management Fellow and 2025 Churchill Fellow, Rick’s work increasingly focuses on advocacy that builds confidence in the sector, strengthens its credibility and deepens community understanding of its value – supporting long-term sustainability, creative careers and stronger cultural impact in communities across Western Australia.

Dr Pilar Kasat, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Arts WA

Dr Pilar Kasat is a Chilean-Australian living on the lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people in Perth, Western Australia. She is a respected cultural leader with more than 20 years’ experience in senior roles and a strong track record in creative engagement and intercultural dialogue with First Nations communities and people of colour. Pilar is widely recognised for championing social justice through the arts and for strengthening communities across Western Australia. She is a Fellow of Leadership WA and holds a Master of Sustainability and Social Change, as well as a PhD. Her research on the role of the arts in driving social change has been published internationally. She has also held leadership positions on state and national boards, including Diversity Arts Australia, Women of Colour Australia, and the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA

James Boyd, State Manager (WA), Development & Partnerships, Creative Australia

James Boyd has over 30 years of experience working in the arts in the UK and Australia, with a background in theatre and community cultural development. As Director, Development for the WASO (2003-8), he encouraged US style arts fundraising in Australia. Since 2008 he has worked for the commonwealth government across the arts and cultural sector, philanthropy and business to encourage greater sustainability through innovative cross-sector engagement, strategic partnerships, sponsorship and philanthropy. He is a Churchill Fellow on the subject ‘PURE MONEY?’ Global Responses Offering Arts Organisations Perspectives and Actions to Help Navigate Private Sector Funding Dilemmas