Joann Russo
Joann Russo is a Kuku Yalanji woman from Ingham in North Queensland. She is the first Aboriginal woman appointed as Manager of the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, located in the town of Cardwell. The art centre is a hub for nine Traditional Owner groups covering 250,000 square kilometres and the home to multi-award winning artists and designers.
Joann has benefited from the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support (IVAIS) program, which provides employment and pathways for arts workers to gain skills and transition into management roles. She graduated from the National Gallery of Australia’s Indigenous Arts Leadership and Fellowship Program, and has become a strong advocate for Indigenous voices and culture to be seen and heard.
In 2019, Joann was appointed as a Director of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation Board. In 2020 she was offered a position on the Indigenous Art Centre Alliance (IACA) management committee, and in 2021 elected as President for IACA. She also sits on the National Aboriginal Art Gallery Reference Group.