Our People

Louise Buckingham, Chief Executive Officer

Louise Buckingham is the CEO of the Arts Law Centre of Australia. She is a lawyer and academic who has specialised in intellectual property and human rights and worked in commercial and in-house roles across the corporate and not-for-profit sectors in Sydney, London and California (beginning at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Sydney, and most recently in the award-winning Tech + IP and Innovation teams at Gilbert + Tobin with several years as the Senior Lawyer at the Australian Copyright Council and an editor of the Copyright Reporter along the way). She is committed to the arts and creators’ rights, and lectures in NSW IP and cultural heritage and ‘art law’ in law, arts and science faculties.

Louise has a PhD (Faculty of Law Award for Excellence), UNSW; an MSC from the London School of Economics, and an LLM and BA(Hons)/LLB(Hons) from the University of Sydney and was admitted to practice in NSW in 2000 and in England and Wales in 2005. She is a committee member (NSW) of IPSANZ and the Trans-Tasman Copyright committee, and is a participant member of Australasian Intellectual Property Academics, and IP Teachers conferences.

Jo-Anne Driessens, Artists in the Black Coordinator

Jo-Anne was raised in Brisbane, Queensland and has been a practicing photographer for 25 years. Completing a 4 year Photography cadetship at the State Library of Queensland in 1999, Jo-Anne has also worked across various arts and community focused roles and is able to bring holistic skills into specialised projects including curatorial frameworks; historical and contemporary research experience and community and cultural protocol principles.

Her passion in working with archival records and old photos has assisted her in connecting with her Aboriginal family and learning of the historical connections to Cherbourg (Barambah) and Yarrabah communities and also the traditional connections to Guwa (Koa) people through her Great Grandmother, (Nancy Watson/Chambers) and Yalangi and Yimithirr people through her Great Grandfather (Charlie Chambers).

Jo-Anne has worked closely with Artists of all disciplines and has successfully delivered the South Stradbroke Island Indigenous Artist Camps (2014-2022), which combines all of her passions for camping, photographing artists on country, sharing camp fire stories and food and allowing time to just ‘be’ present in nature which balances out her commitments in photographing at the many Festivals and live music events throughout the years.

James Carr, General Manager

Since 2006, James has held senior production and management roles across the entertainment, marketing, and non-profit sectors. Career highlights include leading Sydney boutique content agency Symmetry Media for 10 years as CEO, where he managed business operations, client relations, and strategy, along with overseeing its in-house production arm, Cub Films. He has also secured multiple federal and state government grants for arts initiatives. 

James has managed over 500 content and communications deliverables worth millions of dollars for major brands such as Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Menulog, and The Salvation Army. He produced Intersection, a feature-length Australian thriller broadcast nationally on the Nine Network, and the Tropfest finalist documentary The Life I’ve Seen, which aired on the ABC. He has also produced and production-managed various short and feature-length films around NSW. 

James’ diverse arts industry skillset includes script development, project management, client service, and strategy. His experience and passion for the arts will bring valuable administrative and management expertise to Arts Law, supporting its mission to protect creators’ rights. 

Roxanne Lorenz, Principal Solicitor

Roxanne Lorenz is a solicitor at Arts Law where she advises artists and organisations on a range of legal areas; most commonly intellectual property (copyright, moral rights and trade marks), contracts, confidentiality, consumer, defamation and insurance laws.

Roxanne understands the commercial realities for creators and creative organisations protecting their intellectual property. Prior to Arts Law, Roxanne worked at the Australia Council for the Arts (the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body), the Brisbane Festival (one of Australia’s leading international arts festivals) and Queensland Theatre Company (Australia’s third largest and Queensland’s flagship theatre company).

Roxanne also lectures at the Australian Institute of Music where she delivers the Intellectual Property and Media and Communications Law units as part of their Bachelor of Entertainment Management.

Chloe Hillary, Solicitor

Chloe advises artists and organisations in a range of  areas including intellectual property (copyright, moral rights, and trade marks), contracts, defamation and consumer law in her role as a Solicitor at Arts Law. Coupling this, Chloe brings a wealth of experience working in government and insurance litigation. She has earnt her Masters from the University of Sydney in Administrative Law and Public Policy and has an interest in law reform and advocacy. Chloe is a writer and a board member of the literary magazine Going Down Swinging.

Angela Stretch, Administration, Education and Programming Executive

Angela was born in Canterbury, Aotearoa/New Zealand; she lives and works on Gadigal land.  She has worked across various roles in the arts from community arts organisations within the NFP sector in addition to teaching English as a second language at a number of public and private institutions including the Centre of English Teaching at the University of Sydney.

Her art practice uses language and poetry through a variation of mediums. She is the director of Poetry Sydney, a service network that supports poets and poetry audiences to create strong and thriving local poetry communities in our culture.  She serves as secretary on the Surry Hills Business Partnership and has a passion for radio producing Arts Friday on Eastside Radio.

Angela has a Master of Journalism from the University of Technology Sydney, and a Bachelor in Online Media Production from Charles Sturt University.

Jessica Im, Paralegal

Jess joined Arts Law as a part-time paralegal in May 2023. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Technology, Sydney. Jess is passionate about the intersections between the creative arts, social justice, and the law, informed by her prior experience in legal support (commercial litigation and migration law) and volunteer experience in community radio. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, music mixing, and making ceramics.

Megan Schwartz, Paralegal

Megan recently earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Sydney and holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins, London. Her academic interests lie in exploring the evolving values of art over time and critically examining the gaps in its legal protections. With a diverse background as an art dealer, archivist, and registrar in private collections across North America and Europe, Megan is eager to contribute her expertise to the Centre’s mission of empowering artists and creatives through legal advocacy and support.

Ruby Okely, Research Assistant, ICIP

Cassia Glynn Bray, Artists in the Black Paralegal

Cassia is a mixed heritage Kaytetye woman and early career artist who has lived in Guugu Yimithirr and Yidinji country in Far North Queensland, Kaurna country/Adelaide and Meanjin prior to coming to Sydney. She has an honours degree in fine arts from UNSW Art and Design and has also done undergraduate courses and worked as a research assistant in law and social sciences at the University of Queensland. Cassia is currently working as a paralegal with Arts Law’s Artists in the Black program.

Snezana Vukovic, secondee solicitor to Arts Law, AGS

Snezana is an experienced property lawyer with extensive experience advising both government and private clients on a wide range of property-related issues. Since joining Arts Law, she has been providing guidance to artists on various matters, including intellectual property (such as copyright, moral rights, designs and trade marks) and contracts. Additionally, Snezana has a keen interest in public international law and human rights.

Scarlett Southey, Law School Placement, University of Sydney

Nikki Eghlimi, Law School Placement, University of Sydney

Ryan J Leck, Law School Placement, University of Sydney

The Honourable Justice John Robertson Sackar, President

John Robertson Sackar was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in February 2011 after practising as Queen’s Counsel for nearly 25 years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1973 and was admitted as a solicitor in that year.  He was admitted as a barrister in 1975 and graduated with a Master of Laws degree in 1976 again from the University of Sydney. He was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1987.

Justice Sackar is a strong advocate for the Australian arts community and a keen collector of art and other objects. He is particularly passionate about protecting the moral and legal rights of artists and the special cultural integrity of Indigenous art.

Justice Sackar joined the Arts Law Centre of Australia as President in 2019.

Andrew Wiseman, Vice President

Andrew Wiseman is an intellectual property and technology lawyer with over 25 years experience.  He has built his reputation through his work for high-profile international and domestic clients across many industries on copyright, piracy, licensing, marketing, confidentiality, trade mark and many other issues.

Andrew has a unique blend of litigation, intellectual property and commercial legal skills that makes him one of Australia’s leading music industry lawyers.  He has acted on international landmark music industry litigation and commercialisation.  Sony Music, Sony/ATV Publishing, Sony Pictures, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria together with a variety of international and local artists, managers and others in the entertainment business seek Andrew’s ongoing advice and representation.  In addition, clients seek Andrew’s drafting and negotiation skills for their general commercial contracts, distribution agreements, recording contracts, publishing contracts and producer contracts.

Andrew is committed to protecting artists that are vulnerable in respect of their legal rights and is dedicated to meeting the needs within Australia’s arts community for practical legal advice and education and other resources to support artist’s rights.

Andrew has been a partner of Allens Arthur Robinson since 1995 and a director of Arts Law since 2008.

Sarah Kwok, Treasurer

Sarah Kwok is an Associate Director in the KPMG Enterprise Advisory practice and leads the financial modelling and investor readiness capability within Enterprise Sydney. Sarah has 8 years experience as a trusted advisor to high growth technology start-ups and privately owned businesses in the mid-market. Sarah has extensive experience in buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence having advised start-ups, privately owned and public business across technology, media, manufacturing and construction. She has also assisted established businesses on growth strategy and the sustainability and feasibility of new projects. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Business (Finance) and a Bachelor of Law from University of Technology Sydney and a Graduate Certificate of Accounting from Deakin University, Melbourne. Sarah is a chartered accountant and undergoes training on an annual basis to keep abreast of key updates in the Australian accounting standards.

Deb Camden

Deb Camden is a career communicator and consultant with more than 35 years’ experience in media and communication, specialising in strategic communication planning and stakeholder engagement.

The founder of a boutique communication consultancy, Deb works with organisations who want to tap into the sentiments of their key stakeholder audiences in sustainable ways. Her hallmark is designing memorable, elegant and practical solutions to complex and contentious public issues. Deb’s early roles as a journalist with the Brisbane Telegraph, Managing Director of Brisbane’s tourism marketing authority and Director of Queensland Events Corporation underscore her hands-on and practical approach to communication.

Deb holds a Bachelor of Business (Communication) from QUT and a Master of Business Administration from The University of Queensland. She is a fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

Deb has a passion for the arts, in particular, the performing arts having qualified as a teacher of tap in her early life. Deb was welcomed onto the Board of Arts Law in April 2016.

Dr Andrew Lu AM

Andrew Lu is a solicitor specialising in general insurance, health care liability, and medical defence. A partner of HBA Legal, he represents hospitals, health practitioners, and government in civil, coronial and disciplinary matters. He is an experienced trial and appellate advocate, and also appears at inquests and inquiries. Andrew graduated LLB from the University of Western Australia, LLM from New England, and SJD from The Australian National University. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and of ANZIIF, adjunct Senior Lecturer at UWA Law School, and a sessional Member of the State Administrative Tribunal.

Dr Lu is also a non-executive director of the Australian Youth Orchestra, and the National Gallery of Australia Foundation. A member of the Council of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Foundation, he chairs the Fulbright Commission’s WA Selection Committee, and was awarded an Order of Australia medal in 2008 and the Member of the Order of Australia in 2021.

Joanna Renkin

Jo Renkin is a partner at Lander & Rogers and leads the national Pro Bono and Community Support practice and the implementation of sustainable business practices. Jo has also led the firm’s reconciliation activities, including as Chair of the RAP Oversight Committee, was integral to Lander & Rogers endorsement of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and continues to lead relationships with First Nations people.

Jo was recognised as the Lawyers Weekly Pro Bono Partner of the year in 2022, and collaborates with many social, community and legal organisations and services to address access to justice. She drives organisational transformation and adds value to strategic thinking as a board member and stakeholder. Her primary focus is to build legal capability in individuals and organisations and to achieve systemic social impact. She also promotes the empowerment of people and communities through workplace engagement initiatives.

Prior to becoming a dedicated pro bono partner, Jo practised insurance law and has expertise in managing large and complex litigation. She also has considerable experience in class action proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia. She has a BA(Hons) LLB from Monash University. Jo joined the Board of Arts Law in April 2023.

Tina Baum

Tina Baum is a saltwater woman from the Gulumerrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples of the Northern Territory and Western Australia and born and raised in Garramilla (Darwin), Northern Territory. She has over 30 years’ experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and Communities in Museums and Art Gallery’s throughout Australia and has worked at the Queensland Museum, Meanjin (Brisbane); the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Garramilla (Darwin); and the National Museum of Australia, Kamberi (Canberra).

She has been the Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra since 2005. Tina is a recipient of the Australia Council Arts Leaders 2020-22 program, the Art Monthly Australasia, inaugural Indigenous Voices Program (writing) as a mentor in 2021-22, the Australian Institute of Management Rebecca Gregory Indigenous Scholarship in 2011, the British Council inaugural Accelerate: Indigenous Australian Creative Leadership Programme to the United Kingdom in 2009 and the Australia Council for the Arts and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board, Emerging Curators Professional Development Program to the 52nd Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition in Venice, Italy in 2007. Tina is passionate about and continues to work on the National Gallery of Australia and Wesfarmers Arts Indigenous Arts Leadership and Fellowship programs since its inception in 2010, working as a mentor to the participants and over 120 alumni and as a presenter and organiser.

Bobbi Murray

Bobbi Murray is a Barkindji, Ngiyampaa and Malyangapa woman from Wilcannia in far west NSW. She has been a strong advocate for Aboriginal people in the legal sector over 20 years, has worked across both the public and community sectors, spanning housing, education, health and finance whilst doing so. Bobbi is passionate working with young people and has a particular interest in the Funeral and Wills sector as well as in advocating for Aboriginal people. Bobbi is an amateur artist, wife and mother of 2 young girls named Hannah and Georgia.

Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson has literally carved out a distinctive presence within a remarkably talented generation of contemporary Australian artists. Raised on Waiben and now Cairns-based, he has become known for his printmaking, sculpture, and public art in which he uses a variety of techniques to produce bold, innovative and distinctive works. His family are fisher folk whose Roman Catholic faith exists in synergy with traditional spirituality. Robinson’s ancestral lineage extends back to the Maluyligal people of Torres Strait and the Wuthathi people from Cape York Peninsula.

Robinson started his curatorial career at Cairns Regional Gallery where he stayed for a period of 14 years taking up positions as Exhibition Curator, Exhibition Manager and Deputy Director. He commenced his fulltime arts practice in 2010 and is currently represented by Mossenson Galleries in Perth and OneSpace in Brisbane. His work is punctuated with mischief and humour, and it exudes a joyful ebullience that is at once exciting and infectious. Navigating a distinct space-time continuum, these compelling works act as a personal mnemonic for the artist – particular in its detail, specific in its tastes – a unique assemblage of icons and emblems that channel a continued connection to the past. Robinson’s work is held in major collections across the nation and internationally as well as contributing significantly to the built environment of numerous cities across the country through numerous major public art commissions since 1998.

Kristina Stern

Justice Stern was sworn in as a Judge of the NSW Supreme Court and a Judge of Appeal of the NSW Court of Appeal on 8 June 2023. She commenced practice as a solicitor in Victoria, before moving to England where she completed a PhD at Cambridge University. Her Honour lectured in law at King’s College London then practised as a barrister in London for ten years with a broad-based practice that included human rights and general public law, regulatory, common law and commercial work. In 2006, she moved to the Sydney Bar. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011. Whilst at the bar she maintained a wide practice, mainly in commercial, regulatory, administrative and constitutional law.  She has always been a great supporter of, and maintained a keen interest in, the arts.