Who is Tom?
I started my career as a performer — trained at VCASS, graduated with a Bachelor of Dance from the VCA, and toured Australia and New Zealand in Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol. But it was an injury during Year 11, and a chance to step in as Assistant Stage Manager, that changed everything. I discovered I loved what happened around the performance just as much as the performance itself.
That shift from stage to operations has shaped everything since. Today I work across company management, venue operations, touring logistics, and large-scale events — bringing a practical understanding of how creative organisations work, and where they break down.
How I got here
I grew up in an arts-focused family in Geelong and trained with Robin Lee and Peter Dickinson before being accepted into VCASS. After graduating from the VCA, I joined the Fiddler on the Roof tour — and when the tour downsized, I moved into the company office and learned the fundamentals of arts administration. That’s where the penny dropped.
Under Adam Lowe’s guidance I built my production and administrative skills across multiple clients and projects. In 2013 I joined Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as Deputy Company Manager, followed by The King and I and a stint as Swing ASM on Grease.
From there I took on the operations of the newly redeveloped Alex Theatre St Kilda — turning a cinema complex into a working multi-space venue, building systems from scratch across client management, marketing, and day-to-day operations.
I then moved into large-scale public events: White Night Melbourne, White Night Reimagined, and Vivid Sydney as Access and Inclusion Coordinator, overseeing infrastructure for an event attended by over two million people annually.
After Vivid, I returned to Midsumma Festival to lead a State Government budget bid before COVID reshaped the industry entirely. Post-lockdown, I supported the Victorian Pride Centre with venue hire and administration, then returned to commercial musical theatre — working as Deputy Company Manager on Jagged Little Pill, A Christmas Carol, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Moulin Rouge!, and Annie. In between, I contributed to Melbourne Theatre Company’s People & Culture team, focusing on health and safety and systems improvement.
Four Decades of VCA Dance Artists and Where They Are Now
Melbourne University — Faculty of Fine Arts & Music article celebrating 40th Anniversary of VCA Dance, asking former students about their memories of the Victorian College of the Arts, and what they’ve been doing since.
Where I am now
I’m looking for my next Company Manager, Operations Manager, or senior administrative role — somewhere I can bring structure, calm, and practical systems to a team that needs it. I’m at my best in creative environments, but my experience translates well to any organisation where operations matter and people need to feel supported.