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Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory
We recently sat down and interviewed our new board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Jane Connory, the new Vice President of the CWC board!
What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?
I am currently a full time PhD candidate at Monash where I am exploring the visibility of women in Australian graphic design. I also teach in the Communication Design degree, honours years and masters programs there and are employed two days a week as the National Head of Communications at the Design Institute of Australia.
Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?
I have been a potter, an illustrator, an art director in advertising agencies, a camp councillor in the US, a senior designer in publishing and a Program Manager at a private university – but it all started doing colouring-in competitions at primary school.
When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?
I was keen to engage with other creative women and help to champion their contributions to the Australian design industry. I approached the outgoing President, Tess Mccabe , to run a work shop at a national event I ran at Billy Blue College of Design, which celebrated women in design with NYC designer Jessica Walsh.
What has your experience been being a part of the CWC community?
It sounds a little cliché but it is really like finding your tribe.
How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?
CWC offers a safe space for women to meet and share creative hobbies and careers without the ego that can exist in other parts of the creative industries.
Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?
Eirene Mort was a designer in Sydney in the 1900s who designed logos, textiles, typography and many beautiful objects typical to this Arts and Crafts movement. But Eirene was also integral to pulling creative groups of women together and providing platforms for education and to exhibit their uniquely Australian work. A founding member of The Society of Arts and Crafts in NSW, Eirene left a legacy of championing creative women that I am proud to see the CWC continuing.
How do you challenge yourself creatively?
By getting myself out the door every morning with 2 kids in tow.
What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?
I often fantasise about going into business with a friend of mine as a florist.
Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years?
Our fantastic new board want to continue the amazing legacy of the outgoing team by adding to the benefits open to our current members and giving them lots of reasons to stay engaged.
Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?
We have some exciting things planned which just might include craft markets and Christmas presents!
Jane is a PhD candidate at Monash University, and is working towards a gender inclusive history of Australian graphic design. She has been a practising designer and illustrator in the advertising, branding and publishing sectors, in both London and Melbourne, since 1997. When she’s not teaching at Monash University you’ll find her being the National Head of Communications at the Design Institute of Australia. Find out more about Jane and her work via her website, podcast, or check out her research here.