Team and Board
Feast Festival is a not-for-profit organisation staffed by a small team of committed professionals, governed by a voluntary Board, and supported by our generous and passionate volunteers.
Staff
Skye Bee (They/Them)
Executive Director
Skye Bee is the Executive Director of Feast Festival and a multidisciplinary artist, producer, and performer working on Kaurna Yerta, with a distinguished career spanning large-scale event delivery, inclusive arts practice, and organisational leadership. A respected figure across Adelaide’s performing arts and queer community scenes, they have built a reputation for producing bold, ambitious work that centres creativity, cultural integration, and community safety.
As Executive Director, Skye holds strategic, operational, and financial leadership of the Festival. They bring a rare combination of operational rigour, creative sensibility, and deep sector knowledge, and are widely regarded as a passionate and values-driven advocate for access, inclusion, and the transformative power of the arts. As a queer autistic creative, Skye aims to create bold and intimate spaces that centre underrepresented voices, bringing visibility and care to stories and experiences that are often overlooked.
Katherine Sortini (She/They)
Creative Director
Katherine Sortini is a queer, first-generation Italian theatre maker and Creative Director of Feast Festival, based on Kaurna Country. An award-winning artist and founder of Deus Ex Femina, her work spans theatre, spoken word and multidisciplinary performance. Her play Dirty Energy (Adelaide Fringe 2024) won the Holden Street Award, while All The Things I Couldn’t Say received the Adelaide Festival InSpace Award. She is known for creating deeply affecting, human-centred work that resonates with audiences long after the curtain falls, she steps into the Creative Director role having already proven her value to Feast Festival as Creative Producer and Artist and Venue Liaison.
As Creative Director, Katherine leads artistic programming and creative vision for the Festival. Her appointment reflects both the organisation’s confidence in her vision and its commitment to investing in the artists already embedded in its community. As a 2025 Ruby Award winner (Frank Ford Young Achiever), she is passionate about championing bold, inclusive, artist-led work across South Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Kristen Sortini (She/Her)
Events and Communications Coordinator
Kristen is the Events and Communications Coordinator at Feast Festival, returning to the organisation after previously working as Marketing Coordinator. Since then, she has expanded her experience across marketing and event management roles, bringing a well-rounded and practical skill set back to Feast. She oversees both the promotion and delivery of festival experiences, helping bring events to life while ensuring they reach and resonate with audiences.
With a strong focus on storytelling and audience engagement, Kristen is passionate about elevating queer voices and creating meaningful, memorable moments for the community. She believes in the importance of representation, visibility, and joy, and is proud to contribute to a festival that celebrates the depth and diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Board
Penny McAuley (She/Her)
Chairperson
Penny is an arts and culture leader with over 35 years of experience across local government, disability advocacy, and festival and event management. A passionate advocate for people and place, her career has been grounded in the belief that remarkable things happen when individuals, organisations, and communities are supported to thrive.
She has held senior roles with some of Australia’s most beloved cultural institutions, including General Manager of the SALA Festival, Head of Marketing and Events at South Bank Brisbane, Program Manager of Vibrant City at the City of Adelaide, and Patron Services Executive at the Adelaide Festival Centre. With deep insight into both the creative and logistical sides of cultural programming, Penny understands the unique opportunities and challenges of delivering inclusive, impactful events.
Born in Whyalla and raised with strong ties to Yorke Peninsula, Penny brings a lived understanding of regional communities and the importance of connection, collaboration, and representation. She was appointed to the inaugural South Australian Rainbow Advisory Council in 2024 and has held multiple board roles across Australasia and Adelaide, continuing her advocacy as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Now running her own multi award-winning business in Adelaide, Penny is driven by a desire to give back, uplift others, and forge stronger, more inclusive futures. Her leadership is guided by one key question: What could we be doing differently to bring our whole community with us—more meaningfully, more impactfully, and more sustainably?
Nick Hays (He/Him)
Board member
Nick Hays is the Executive Director of Australian Dance Theatre, the nation’s oldest contemporary dance company founded on Kaurna Country in 1965. Nick has contributed to Australia’s cultural sector for nearly 20 years, most recently as Chair of Melbourne-based independent theatre company, Rawcus, a board member of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria and Deputy Chair of Dancehouse Melbourne. Nick is also currently on the Board of Writers SA and Project Animo.
As a young queer person growing up in country NSW in the 90s, Nick is incredibly committed to ensuring that queer artists, and queerness, are visible, respected and supported, and that all communities celebrate the diversity of sexuality, artforms and artistic voices.
Charlotte Coulthard-Dare (She/Her)
Board member
Nangka. Ngai mityi Charlotte-nha. Ngatyu Yura Mityi Unakanha. Ngaityu Adnyamathanha Barngarla and Yankunytjatjara Transgender Yurartu.
“Hello, my name is Charlotte. My Adnyamathanha name is Unakanha – which means 3rd born daughter. My ancestral ties are with the Adnyamathanha People, The Barngarla People and The Yankunytjatjara People of South Australia”
Charlotte is a country girl at heart, who grew up in and around Quorn in the Northern Flinders Ranges.
Radio has always been a part of her life and she speaks up about First Nations and LGBTIQA+ issues and is on the airwaves both locally and nationally here in Adelaide with the First Nations radio show Nunga Wangga through Radio Adelaide 101.5fm, as Presenter.
In 2016 Charlotte came out as a proud First Nations Trans Woman during the filming of the short documentary called “Just Harry”. Charlotte was named NAIDOCSA LGBTIQ Person of the Year in 2019 and was an Ambassador for Feast Festival in 2021.
Jenn Allan (She/Her)
Board member
Jennifer has 14 years’ experience in risk assurance and advisory working in consulting firms and industry. Jennifer started her career working at Not for Profit Accounting Specialists (NFPAS). In this role she worked on audits, administration takeovers, and accounting for various for-purpose organisations. In the following years, Jennifer worked across consulting firms and in industry, in assurance, risk, and compliance roles before going back into professional services with PwC.
For the past 2 years Jennifer has worked with organisations on improving risk environment and achieving strategic objectives with a focus on governance and culture.
Jennifer is the proud Mum of a trans man and the site lead for the Shine employee group at PwC. Jennifer has a strong belief in inclusion and equity which drives her commitment to be a part of the change to a better future for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Jennifer has a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting from Uni SA and is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Phillip van Mourik (He/Him)
Board Member
Phillip is delighted to join the Feast Festival Board, bringing with him a strong foundation in community engagement and a genuine passion for supporting LGBTQIA+ spaces. A dedicated advocate for the local community, Phil has a long history of hands-on involvement, including several years volunteering with Feast Festival alongside contributions to a range of local support groups, committees, and initiatives.
As Mr BearSA 2013, he brings a unique perspective that balances operational support knowledge and practices with a strong understanding of community identity and spirit. Phil is committed to strengthening Feast’s role as a representative celebration of South Australia’s diverse queer communities.
Wez Hughson (He/Him)
Board Member
Wez is excited and humbled to be joining the Feast family as a newly appointed board member.
A long-time advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, Wez has contributed to visibility, performance, and culture, both on and off the stage. As a performer (Adelaide’s Xanthe Starr), Wez has created safe spaces through drag workshops, events, comedy, and multiple sell-out shows, including within the FEAST calendar. He has also coordinated major community events, including markets, large-scale Christmas celebrations, and the Port Adelaide Pride Festival, the first of its kind in the area, bringing people together to celebrate as one.
With years of experience across community, events, performance, and business, Wez aims to collaborate with the FEAST team to bring a new era of fun, excitement, sparkle, and glamour, while strengthening community, awareness, and inclusivity.
“I wish for everyone to feel confident living as who they are, without fear of prejudice.” Wez is excited for what’s ahead and proud to help shape the future of FEAST.
