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.

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.

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.

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.