Manager of Jilamara Arts secures 2023 AuSAE influencer award

The Australasian Society of Association Executives has announced the seven winners of the 2023 AuSAE Association Influencers Awards, with Hannah Raisin - Manager, Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association – among the impressive leaders and innovators from Australia and New Zealand.

AuSAE’s Association Influencers program is about highlighting and recognising the outstanding contributions of individuals in the association community across Australia and New Zealand.

Hannah Raisin is the Manager at the Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association, an Aboriginal-owned and governed not-for-profit charity on Melville Island in the Northern Territory.

Raisin 's impact on the sector is far-reaching, and she has been instrumental in bringing Jilamara's voice to the outside world through various mediums, including exhibitions, film, and artist talks.

Raisin identifies Jilamara Arts' three key purposes: to keep culture strong, develop sustainable careers for artists, and bring commerce directly into the community. She helps facilitate these ends with exceptional clarity while working in a physically isolated community challenged by chronic Indigenous ill health and endemic poverty.

Supporting innovation by creating bridges between remote Indigenous and mainstream contexts, Hannah promotes sustainable career pathways for emerging artists and facilitates the realisation of visions by her board. She also supports inclusivity and special needs artists through the Ngawa Mantawi Program.

Raisin has made significant contributions to the Indigenous arts and culture sector, facilitating the promotion of First Nations stories and traditional knowledge. She has empowered elders to pass on their knowledge and use public platforms for cultural leaders to ensure their Indigenous voices are heard and celebrated. Her knowledge of the mainstream high art world and creative problem-solving skills have helped bridge the gap between remote Indigenous and mainstream contexts.

Her management work at Jilamara Arts has resulted in innovative projects like the Yo-Yi dance, have been exhibited in prominent venues worldwide. Raisin's impact and contribution to the sector are immense and have helped revive and celebrate the crucial place of First Nations stories in Australia's arts and culture.

The AuSAE Association Influencers for 2023 also include

• Anne Cornish - Chief Executive Officer, Records & Information Management Practitioners Alliance - Global

• Brett O'Riley - Chief Executive, Employers & Manufacturers Association

• Greg Wallace - Chief Executive Officer, Master Plumbers New Zealand

• Lindsay McGrath - Chief Executive Officer, Swimming Pool & Spa Association

• Noel Dos Santos - General Manager - Growth, Engineers Australia

• Sandra Kirby - Chief Executive, Physiotherapy New Zealand

Toni Brearley Chief Executive Australasian Society of Association Executives notes “we are honoured to recognise each and every one of these individuals for their efforts to making a lasting impact on our tribe and setting the standard for association professionals to follow.”

To learn more about each Association Influencer, and to see the full list of nominees, visit www.ausae.org.au/association-influencers-2023-winners