Inscape Board Members
Members of the Inscape Board bring a range of skills and experience relating to the health sector, the art industry, small business and community development.
Jacqui Dawborn
Co-Founder of Inscape
Jacqui’s background in visual and performing arts and health care spans many years. She is experienced in arts-in-health practice with previous roles as Artist-in-residence, Play Specialist, and Clown Doctor in hospitals in NSW and Tasmania. She has worked as Festival Coordinator, Health Educator and Art Facilitator roles in Central Australia. Jacqui’s artistic practice in mosaic work includes private and public sales.
Dr Leigh Tesch
Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Inscape
Leigh is a performing artist, producer, arts worker, project co-ordinator, evaluator, Occupational Therapist and Dance Therapist. Leigh works with communities and runs a freelance consultancy delivering arts programs in health and education settings.
Leigh’s PhD research focus was on the benefits of creative arts programs (story telling) for people receiving renal dialysis.
Andrew Koch
Inscape Board Member
Andrew is a practicing health care professional and has a long involvement within the performing arts sector in Tasmania. He is on the national board of ProVision Eye Care and is CEO of Total Eyecare in Hobart. He has postgraduate qualifications in Business Management and Leadership and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has experience in organisational governance.
Dr Karen Ford
Inscape Board Member
Karen is Adjunct Associate Professor of Nursing with the University of Tasmania School of Nursing. Karen has a strong interest in the positive impact of art on health and wellbeing. A major research interest is participatory arts based methods. Karen has been involved in research with arts and health projects at the Royal Hobart Hospital including children’s experiences of health care, evaluation of the Inscape program in the Older Persons Unit and exploring staff experiences of working during a pandemic.
Rebecca Coote
Inscape Board Member
Rebecca is a practicing artist, working across the fields of art, craft and public art design. In 2007 she was awarded a Masters Degree in Fine Arts and has received numerous public art commissions and arts grants. Her glass and stainless steel sculpture, and more recently printmaking have been exhibited locally, nationally and internationally. In Tasmania she is represented by Handmark Gallery.
Rebecca has a 20 year history of working in aged care, disabilities and more recently allied health. Her current role is Art Tutor at the Community Rehabilitation Unit running the Art as Therapy program. She is passionate about how art can support and enhance people’s health and recovery.
Dr Stephen Ayre
Inscape Board Member
Stephen is a medical specialist trained in Medical Administration and became a Fellow in 2000. He has worked as a senior administrator in Queensland and Tasmania. While at LGH he was active in revitalising the Art Collection and ensuring better curation. He is currently the Executive Director Medical Services at Royal Hobart Hospital, and the Regional Health Commander COVID response. He has skills in change management, digital health and is interested in the broader contribution that the arts can make to overall health both at an individual and hospital wide level.
Gill Whitehouse
Inscape Board Member
Gill has extensive experience as a physiotherapist in acute care, rehabilitation, aged care, palliative care, and in community health and health promotion. Her person-centred and interdisciplinary approach has led her to value the links between health and arts, and the benefits of enriching interactive participation.
She has a deep commitment to volunteering, supporting others in project development, leadership, training and mentorship, and is actively involved in many community organisations, often at board level.