International Delegates

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Theater der Welt

Director

He is a cultural practitioner born in Tunja, Colombia, and based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His work spans a bold and broad range of roles, including performing arts direction, curation, production, translation, and teaching.

He has coordinated the MARKET/FIBA for the past six editions (2019–2024), a gathering of presenters, curators, producers, and artists. This event takes place within the Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires (FIBA), a public festival produced by the Ministry of Culture, where he has also been part of the General Production team. He has joined recently the Co-Curation Team for Theater der Welt 2026 (Chemnitz, Germany).

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Festival Internatcional de Buenos Aires

Artistic Director

B.A. from the University of Buenos Aires. He is a professor, researcher and theater critic. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of the Festival Internacional de Buenos Aires (FIBA). He publishes his articles in the newspaper La Nación and he is the director of the magazine Funámbulos. He has published the following books: El giro político, Por una crítica deseante and Teatro Anaurático. As a professor he works at Pepperdine University and at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. He worked as the Executive Director of the CPTI (Consejo Provincial de Teatro Independiente de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) and he was a member of the Board of the INT (Instituto Nacional del Teatro - Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación Argentina). He recently joined the curatorial Team of MIACENA, a Site specific festival in São Paulo, Brazil.

Wollogong, Australia

Merrigong Theatre Company

Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer

Simon is Artistic Director / CEO of Australia’s largest regional theatre company, Merrigong Theatre Company, managing one of the country's most dynamic venues - Illawarra Performing Arts Centre and Wollongong Town Hall, just south of Sydney. Merrigong presents an annual season featuring Australia's finest performing arts companies, its own self-produced works, acclaimed international productions, and contemporary work from new companies. Under Simon’s twenty-year leadership, Merrigong has seen unprecedented growth, built a reputation for its commitment to artist development and First Nations work, and become a vital source of new Australian theatre, touring to venues and festivals, and supporting the development of a wide range of theatre-makers. He has worked in a range of arts industry positions, and served on numerous industry boards and committees, including many years on the board of PAC Australia, the peak body for performing arts presenters.

Perth, Australia

Executive Director

PAC Australia

Katherine is the Executive Director at PAC Australia, delivering the organisation’s sector development, capacity building and policy priorities. She has worked as a performing arts presenter, a producer and an arts planning consultant in Australia for 25 years.

Under Katherine’;s leadership, PAC Australia’;s performing arts market, APAX, has become the leading market development event for touring and presentation outcomes within Australia, leading the organisation to be appointed as the service delivery partner for Creative Australia to deliver the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) from 2026-2030.

Katherine is also currently a member of the Arts Skills Workforce Advisory Group for Services and Creative Skills Australia, and leads the Australian edition of the global research piece The Compelling Employment Offer alongside the Advisory Board for the Arts.

Geelong, Australia

Director, Programming

Geelong Arts Centre

Penny has over 17 years’ experience in the performing arts, spanning producing, project management and touring. She is Director, Programming at Geelong Arts Centre, leading the planning, development and delivery of the Centre’s curated programs. As part of the Executive Leadership Team, she contributes to creative strategy and the activation of spaces, supporting a thriving, diverse and innovative creative sector in the Geelong region.

Previously, Penny was Associate Producer at Opera Australia, managing its annual national tour and primary school tours across VIC, NSW, TAS and the ACT. She has also held roles at Arts Centre Melbourne as Business Administrator, Scottish Opera as Assistant Company Manager, and Melbourne Recital Centre as Presenter Services Coordinator.

She holds a double degree in Performing Arts and Music from Monash University.

Recife, Brazil

RESIDE Festival

Founder and Coordinator

Paula de Renor is an actress, cultural producer, manager, curator, and project coordinator in the fields of theater and popular culture in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. With a 42-year career, she is the founder and coordinator of festivals and initiatives that strengthen the artistic scene, such as the RESIDE Festival, now in its 6th edition. RESIDE aims to promote exchanges through artistic residencies and to build partnerships among different countries, fostering connections between creative artists, encouraging dialogue on ideas and creative processes, and sharing experiences and knowledge — thus breaking possible territorial and linguistic barriers.

Bogotá, Colombia

National Centre for the Arts

Programming Lead

Daniel A. Mikey is an arts management professional and producer specializing in performing arts and audiovisual media. He has partnered with leading cultural institutions including the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá, Colombia's Ministry of Culture, the National Theater Foundation, the National Center for the Arts, and Vivemikey. He has driven the development of strategic partnerships, production initiatives, and international exchange programs that facilitate the circulation of innovative projects by acclaimed artists.

Currently, he serves as Programming Lead at the National Center for the Arts, where he develops a programming model that integrates diverse artistic disciplines with community engagement and territorial development. His approach prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and active participation within the cultural ecosystem.

Copenhagen, Denmark

CPH STAGE

International Project Manager

Geir Lindahl is an International Project Manager at CPH STAGE, a performing arts festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has over 10 years of experience in cultural policy, public funding, and international collaboration. Previously, he served as a Senior Advisor at Nordic Culture Point in Helsinki and as an Advisor at Performing Arts Hub Norway (PAHN). With strong expertise in project management, diplomacy, and administration, Geir has worked closely with ministries, embassies, and cultural institutions across the Nordic region and internationally.

Nuuk, Greenland

Suialaa Arts Festival

Festival Director

Festival Director at the Suialaa Arts Festival, Greenland's largest recurring cultural event that embraces all forms of arts and culture in the spirit of collaboration. Previously known as the Nuuk Nordic Culture Festival, SAF has been bringing together artists from all over the North since 2015.

Reykjavík, Iceland

Creative Producer

Lókal Performing Arts Reykjavík

Born and raised in Reykjavík. BA in theatre and multimedia from University of Iowa. MFA from University of Minnesota. Worked and lived in New York City as a performer, performance maker, mentor and instructor. In 2000 she moved to Reykjavík  after taking on the position of  Dean of Department of Performing Arts at Iceland University of the Arts. Ragnheiður worked at the Academy until 2011, initiating programs in contemporary performance practices and contemporary dance. In 2008 she co-founded the LÓKAL International Theatre Festival. She was artistic director of the Akureyri City Theatre from

2012 to 2015 and manager of Iceland Dance Company 2016-2019. Ragnheiður served as the artistic director and CEO of Festspillene i Nord-Norge 2019-2025. Ragnheiður has years of experience as teacher and mentor, she has also worked with various artists/groups as a producer and as a critical friend.

Mexico City, Mexico

Cultura UNAM 

Technical Secretary of Planning and Programming

Producer and director with over 25 years of experience in the creation of artistic and cultural content, specifically in the fields of music and film. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy, cinematography, cultural management, artistic production, and senior business management in Mexico, the United States, Spain, and France. He was the co-founder and Executive Director of Instrumenta, a leading institution in music education and production in Mexico, both nationally and internationally. He is the founder of Protovecka, a production company focused on the creation of interdisciplinary artistic content in fields such as music, visual arts, film, and aesthetic thought.

He is currently the Technical Secretary of Planning and Programming for the Coordination of Cultural Diffusion at UNAM. Since 2017, he has directed El Aleph, the Festival of Art and Science, and the CulturaUNAM Festival, where more than 600 of his own and interdisciplinary productions have been produced.

Mexico City, Mexico

Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico

General Director of Promotion and Cultural Festivals

Valeria Palomino has a career spanning more than 30 years in audio engineering, music and performing arts production and programming. She was also a public official at the National Coordination of Music and Opera of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL), and since 2020 has served as executive coordinator of the Music Department at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She studied piano at the National School of Music of the UNAM and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana. As a recording engineer, music producer, and editor, she has collaborated on more than 70 albums with the country's leading orchestras and ensembles. She has been responsible for the recording and broadcasting of more than 800 live concerts for radio and television. She has also collaborated on emblematic events such as the International Cervantino Festival, the International Festival of Music and Scene, Impulso, and the Festival CulturaUNAM, among others. She is currently the General Director of Promotion and Cultural Festivals of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico.

Mexicali, Mexico

Autonomous University of Baja California

Head of the Department of Cultural Action and Intervention within the General Coordination for Extension of Cultural  and Science Communication

Kelda María Rivera García (Ensenada, 1979) holds a degree in Communication Sciences from the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC). She completed a specialization in Cultural Policy and Cultural Management through CONACULTA, the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM). She also holds a specialization in International Cultural Relations from the OEI–UNESCO Department of Cultural Policy and Cultural Cooperation at the University of Girona.

She has continued her professional development in cultural management, cultural policy, cultural marketing, social economy, social innovation, and peacebuilding through various diplomas, seminars, and workshops. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Cultural Management at the Open University of Catalonia.

For thirteen years, she coordinated the Espuma Cuántica (“Quantum Foam”) program, which, under her direction, became part of the Northwest Network of Dance Festivals. Since 2019, she has been a member of the Network of Cultural Managers of Mexico. In 2024, she was selected to join the Momentum International Delegates Programme, organized by the British Council Scotland, Festivals Edinburgh, and Creative Scotland—an invitation-only initiative that brings together producers, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, government representatives, festival programmers, and cultural and funding agencies.

For over eleven years, she has been a faculty member at the Faculty of Arts, UABC Ensenada, where she teaches courses in cultural management. She currently serves as Head of the Department of Cultural Action and Intervention within the General Coordination for Extension of Cultural  and Science Communication at the Autonomous University of Baja California.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland Arts Festival

Artistic Director

Bernie Haldane is a seasoned advocate for the live performance and arts sector across Australia and New Zealand, with over 25 years’ experience. Beginning in stage management and lighting design, she went on to produce new works for the national stage and manage major venues. A 2010 Churchill Fellow, her research focused on sustainable theatre models for developing and presenting new work. Bernie has held senior roles including Director of Presenter Services at Arts Centre Melbourne and Chief Executive of HotHouse Theatre. She actively contributes to industry networks supporting artists and extending the life of their work. Most recently Creative Director at Auckland Live, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest performing arts centre, Bernie now serves as Kaitohu Toi – Artistic Director of the Auckland Arts Festival (2025–2028), continuing her commitment to advancing the arts for artists and audiences alike.

Auckland, New Zealand

Performing Arts Network of New Zealand

International Liason

I am International Liaison for the PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand) Arts Market 2026 which takes place 3 - 6 March in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The PANNZ Arts Market is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premiere event for the performing arts sector and a leading market for Australasia and the Pacific. It showcases the best contemporary performing arts from the region, and is attended by hundreds of artists, international and national festivals, presenters and curators every March.

Auckland, New Zealand

Performing Arts Network of New Zealand

Senior Producer

She is a Senior Producer for PANNZ. She has experience working with arts organisations and festivals in Aotearoa/ New Zealand since 2003. She has worked in production, administration and event management roles for WOMAD, Festival of Colour, Upsurge, Taranaki Arts Festival, National Jazz Festival, Tauranga City Council NZ Garden and Artfest, and Tauranga Art Gallery. From 2009 - 2019, Jo held significant roles at Tauranga Arts Festival - General Manager (2009 - 2012) and Director (2013 - 2019).

Auckland, New Zealand

Performing Arts Network of New Zealand

Chief Executive Officer

Louise Gallagher has been the CEO of PANNZ (Performing Arts Network of New Zealand) since 2017, with over two decades of senior arts management experience, she is deeply committed to championing high-quality, independently produced artistic works from Aotearoa on both national and international stages.

Throughout her tenure at PANNZ, Louise has significantly expanded the organization's strategic plan, developed significant relationships and  partnerships, while cultivating a team of accomplished professionals from New Zealand's finest. She leads strategic initiatives including the annual PANNZ Arts Market, national touring programme and agency, the PANNZ International Programme and overseeing the Festivals Commissioning and
Presentation Fund.

Louise's career is marked by working on a diverse range of productions, from large commercial ventures to intimate performing arts shows. She is dedicated to fostering connections, building partnerships, and creating opportunities that link artists with the broader industry in Aotearoa, with the ultimate goal of increasing the presentation of New Zealand work globally. She also actively develops relationships with other arts leaders who share her vision for a thriving and sustainable arts sector.

Louise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Social Humanities from The University of Auckland, a Diploma in Marketing from NZIM, and is a graduate of the Leadership Programme for High Potentials at the NZ Institute of Strategic Leadership.

Nelson, New Zealand

Wānaka Festival of Colour

Artistic Director

Sophie is a dedicated arts advocate with a strong background in arts management and event curation. She is currently the Artistic Director of both the Wānaka Festival of Colour and its sister programme, Aspiring Conversations. In alternate years, she also serves as Festival Director for the internationally acclaimed Adam Chamber Music Festival in Nelson.
Sophie previously led a range of significant cultural events, including the Nelson Arts Festival, Opera in the Park, Te Ramaroa Light Festival, the Nelson Summer Events programme, and the Upsurge Bay of Islands Arts Festival. Her extensive national and international network within the performing arts sector underpins a proven track record of delivering outstanding, memorable arts experiences.
She is passionate about fostering creativity within communities and creating opportunities for audiences to come together through the power of live performance.

Wellington, New Zealand

Director Māori and Strategic Advisor

Performing Arts Network New Zealand

Dolina Wehipeihana is a distinguished New Zealand producer, arts manager, choreographer, and performer from Aotearoa New Zealand. She is Festival Co-Director at Tāwhiri, the organisation behind the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Wellington Jazz Festival, and other major cultural events in the capital city of Wellington.

Of Māori descent, Dolina co-directs Betsy & Mana Productions, advancing Indigenous storytelling and contemporary Māori performance arts. She is a founding member and current Board Co-Chair of Indigenous dance company Atamira, and Kaiārahi Māori | Director Māori and Strategic Advisor at PANNZ (Performing Arts Network New Zealand) who run New Zealand’s annual national arts market, national touring programme and Festival Commission and Presentation Fund.

Harstad, Norway

Festspillene i Nord-Norge

Director

Susanne Næss Nielsen is the director of Festspillene i Nord-Norge in Northern Norway (Arctic Arts Festival). It is an annual summer festival with a strong focus on northern stories and realities.
Susanne is also the chair of The Audio and Visual Fund, appointed by the Ministry of Culture. In addition to this she has been part of several national and international expert committees and has been mentor for artists and producers in the Nordic Countries.

Vadsø, Norway

Artist

Amund Sjølie Sveen (b. 1973) is an Arctic artist from Vadsø, Northern Norway. His work is often focused on the narratives and power struggles in the north, taking the Arctic as a starting point for investigating both local and global questions of power, economy and identity in our current world of capitalist reality. The last years, he has dedicated most of his time to leading the nomadic peoples assembly NORDTING, and visiting local communities and cultural institutions all over the circumpolar North. He is a regular contributor to public debates, and is associated with the Arctic University in Tromsø (NO) as a researcher.

Busan, South Korea

Director, Performing Arts

Busan Cultural Center

Jueun An is the Director of the Performing Arts Dept. at the Busan Cultural Center, a leading public theatre in Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, consisting of two venues with six performance halls. With over 20 years of experience in arts management, she has worked across artistic programming, festival planning, and international cooperation. Before joining the Center, she served at the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), where she contributed to designing the Center Stage Korea international touring support program. At Busan Cultural Center, she leads the performing arts department, overseeing season programming, co-productions, and youth artist incubation projects that strengthen the regional creative ecosystem. She also serves as Head of Secretariat for the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam Chapter of the Korean Culture and Arts Centers Association (KoCACA), fostering collaboration among public theatres nationwide.

Ansan, South Korea

Ansan Street Arts Festival

Dong Ha Kang works for Ansan Street Arts Festival, one of Korea’s leading international street art festivals, transforming the city of Ansan into a vibrant open stage. Each year, artists from around the world gather to present innovative performances that blur the boundaries between art and daily life. The festival celebrates creativity, community, and cultural diversity through theater, dance, circus, and interactive street performances. By engaging audiences of all ages in public spaces, the festival fosters connections among people and cultures, making art an integral part of urban life.

Seoul, South Korea

Team Lead of Performing Arts International Development

Korea Arts Management Service

Since 2010, I have worked on performing arts programs at the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), focusing on international exchange and market development. My experience includes coordinating the Performing Arts Market in Seoul (PAMS), the Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF), KAMS Connection, and Center Stage Korea. I have also supported national touring and audience development initiatives. Currently, I oversee the planning and operation of PAMS and SPAF, working to build meaningful partnerships and contribute to the growth of the performing arts field.

Incheon, South Korea

Secretary General 

ASSITEJ Korea

Kim Hye-young is a performing arts producer and arts administrator in Korea. She has worked as a performance production producer and international exchange coordinator at national/public arts organizations and theatres, and has served as a programmer for major events, including the World National Theatre Festival, the Youth Performing Arts Festival, and the Uijeongbu Music Theatre Festival.

Since 2019, she has been the Secretary General of ASSITEJ Korea. In this role, she oversees various initiatives, including children’s and youth performing arts festivals (such as the ASSITEJ International Summer Festival) and workshops. She also manages local distribution projects and the establishment of a creative platform. She actively plans collaborative projects with domestic and international institutions interested in producing and distributing youth performances, fostering strong, organic relationships.

Following the selection of South Korea as the next host at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Havana, Cuba, in May 2024, the ASSITEJ Korea is currently preparing to host the 2027 ASSITEJ World Congress and International Children and Youth Performing Arts Festival in July.

Seoul, South Korea

Artistic Director 

Seoul Performing Arts Festival

Kyu Choi is a festival director, creative producer, and researcher. He has built up expertise in theme-based creative practices. He has extensive experience in cross-cultural and interdisciplinary work and is a leading proponent of contemporary arts networks in Asia. Under the themes of ‘diversity and inclusion in art’, ‘innovation and new relationship among art and science & technology in post-humanism perspectives’, and ‘locality & next mobility/circulation’, Kyu has recently developed several research-led workshops and practices including ‘Connected city’, ‘The Korea DMZ lab’ and ‘Accessibility and creative development for arts and disability’. Kyu has worked as artistic director as well as creative director for the UK/Korea Season Festival 2017-18, the Chuncheon International Mime Festival, and the Ansan Street Arts Festival. He is a founder of AsiaNow productions in 2005 and has worked to develop the Asian Producers’ Platform and APP Camp 2014-2021. Kyu initiated Asia-Pacific Festivals Connection in 2024 for Asian artist’s international mobility.

Seoul, South Korea

Director, External Cooperation

Korean Culture and Arts Centers Association (KoCACA)

I have been serving as the Director of External Cooperation at the Korean Culture and Arts Centers Association(KoCACA) since 2022. Prior to this role, I worked for approximately fifteen years as a performance planner at regional culture and arts centers.

The Korean Culture and Arts Centers Association(KoCACA) was established in 1996 to contribute to the balanced development and mutual cooperation of culture and arts centers, to promote the dissemination of arts, and to support cultural activities for the public, including underprivileged groups.

Barcelona, Spain

International Development Coordinator

EL ÁLAMO Creative Management

EL ÁLAMO Creative Management is the environment where I feel comfortable to participate, to share and to collaborate in cultural and artistic projects while preserving artistic and management independence. The environment to work in International Relations, Artistic coordination, internationalization projects, development projects training and the accompaniment of all sort of generations will happen in EL ÀLAMO.

Taichung City, Taiwan

Deputy Director

National Taichung Theater

CP joined the National Taichung Theater in 2022, she is committed to accomplishing an unconventional and cross-disciplinary curatorial programming and practicing a sustainable theater for art and life together with artists and colleagues, which was contributed by her background of visual arts and museums studies, as well as having served as a cultural attaché in Taipei Cultural Center in New York where she facilitated a variety of cultural exchange projects and collaborations between Canada, the USA and Taiwan for a decade.