Kim Roberts (she/her) is an experienced and passionate arts leader and advocate. With 25 years in the music industry in charity management, community radio, festival administration and as a working musician (which she still enjoys), Kim has a deep understanding of the needs of artists and arts organisations in our current climate.
With added roles and qualifications in social research, vocational training and digital media, Kim brings a breadth of skills and a strong focus on knowledge sharing, advocacy, diversity and inclusion, artist pathways and sustainable organisational development.
Kim is also the General Manager 0.2FTE for the Arts Industry Council SA, a non-government not-for-profit acting as an independent voice for the arts in SA.
Zhao is an accomplished creative, musician, producer – who has created and developed programs in arts and public spaces. Over the years, her initiatives are strongly grounded in South Australia, partnering with art companies, local councils and education institutions to develop projects which amplify the voices of the community.
With a heart for families, culturally diverse artists and individuals – her works often speak to younger audiences with a deeper message. Her recent production “Tale of the Fire Phoenix’ has been a project developed with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Create SA; whilst “Multicultural Storytime’ has been another project – still embraced by local councils and Multicultural SA – in the last ten years.
Zhao is a listener, responder, and ground-breaking risk-taker. Her onboarding at Nexus Arts will open up new collaborations and initiatives, crossing languages, art making and forms in the local South Australian art scene, as well as across states and nationalities.
Ruth Weldon (She/Her) is a highly skilled and experienced arts worker, living and working on Kaurna land.
Ruth has almost 20 years experience in the arts, primarily in community and cultural development, working with emerging artists, in youth arts and arts education.
Outside of Nexus Arts, Ruth works as a freelance audio describer with Acess2Arts and is a co-chair of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia.
This year, she graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) with an MFA in Cultural Leadership. From her beginnings, travelling the world working on festivals, she has had a range of experiences across ticketing, marketing, producing, project management and development.
Ruth is immensely passionate about making arts accessible for all and helping to foster the next generation of arts workers and makers.
Bolanle has a dynamic background in both the creative and business side of advertising and media production.
With extensive experience as an Advertising Agency producer and as a producer with Nigerian Idol, Bolanle has honed a unique blend of creative direction, project management, and strategic marketing expertise. She has always enjoyed the process of bringing stories to life and can always be found reading a good book with a cup of tea.
She currently works as our Marketing Manager, focusing on leveraging her experience to deliver results that elevate Nexus Arts.
Chiranjika (Chira) Grasby is an artist and curator working on Kaurna Yerta.
Her practice incorporates painting, illustration, and sculpture, inspired by her experiences with cultural disconnect as a Queer Asian diaspora. This translates into melancholic depictions of mundane daily imagery, as well as explorations into the personal impact of internet culture and the spread of digital technology from a neurodivergent lens.
Since graduating from Adelaide Central School of Art in 2019 with a Bachelor of Visual Art, she has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions across South Australia and Victoria. As a curator she has presented exhibitions at FELTspace ARI, Praxis Art Space, Halfpace, Nexus Arts, Adelaide Town Hall, and Collective Haunt.
In 2024 she was the Early Career Curator for South Australian not for profit Guildhouse, and was a 2025 Curatorial Intern under Rayleen Forester at Adelaide Contemporary Experimental (ACE) Gallery. She currently co-owns Halfpace Studio – an inclusive tattoo space and residency site, whilst also working as the Gallery Manager at Nexus Arts Gallery.
Kultar Ahluwalia is a hip hop artist from Southern Adelaide with Punjabi and Irish roots. At a young age coming to terms with his identity, Kultar found wisdom in the empowering words of revolutionary hip hop artists. Kultar has been releasing and performing music over the last two decades under various pseudonyms and in the group, We Move Like Giants. More recently, Kultar began creating works under his birth name.
In 2023, Kultar was selected as one of six artists in the Nexus Arts Interplay Program. During his time in the program, Kultar created a new stage show and accompanying EP “The Mixed-Race Tape”.
In 2024, “The Mixed-Race Tape” was premiered at OzAsia Festival across two capacity shows at Nexus Arts with glowing reception. Kultar was invited for performances and media appearances on outlets such as ABC Radio National, SBS, Channel 9, themusic.com.auand Glam Adelaide.
In 2025, Kultar will be taking “The Mixed-Race Tape” into new territories across Australia and, as always, hitting the home studio and sharing new music.
And, in a full circle moment, he will be commencing a role at Nexus Arts supporting and mentoring the next cohort of Interplay artists.
Jennifer Trijo is a Filipino singer, actor, and multi-instrumentalist living and working in Kaurna Yerta.
Her professional theatre credits include: Baruska in Once (Darlinghurst Theatre Company; Black Swan State Theatre Company; Comedy Theatre; HOTA); Janelle Woods and Shirelle in Beautiful – the Carole King Musical (Matt Ward Entertainment); Ms. Mendoza in The Deep North, the first African-Australian musical (South Australian Playwrights Theatre); Hua Mulan, Pocahontas, and Badroulbadour in Disenchanted (Mad About Theatre); and Kim in the Australian tour of Miss Saigon (LWAA | Michael Coppel).
Jennifer is a regular featured artist at the Oz Asia Festival and Adelaide Fringe Festival with credits including: Pinoy Street Party (2021); Someday – A Mindful Cabaret (2021-2022); Hyoshi in Counterpoint (2022-2024); Leslie & Anita: The Fallen Stars of Hong Kong (2024); the Jennifer Trijo Band (2024); and Typhoon for SAPT (2024).
Since releasing her debut self-titled EP, she has composed approximately 100 original songs. Recent career highlights include being named a 2024 Finalist in the APRA AMCOS Professional Development Awards in the Music Theatre category for her musical Dragonfly, and winning a 2024 Green Room Award for Best Artist Ensemble in Commercial Music Theatre with the multi-talented cast of Once.
Jennifer is an advocate for accessible arts education and works as a mentor for emerging First Nations and culturally diverse singer-songwriters through Nexus Arts, Adelaide. She is a voice faculty member of the Elder Conservatorium of Music (Music Theatre), a graduate of the Bachelor of Music & Bachelor of Education double degree at UNSW, a graduate of a Certificate IV in Fitness at AIPT, and a proud member of the MEAA.
She is thrilled to be one of the original Australian cast members of Hadestown (Opera Australia & Jones Theatrical Group).
Jacquelyn Nikolic is an accomplished business manager with a background in the arts, retail and trades industry. She is highly proficient in office administration and holds various qualifications in bookkeeping, management, SFX makeup and film.
She has been involved with events such as Beer and BBQ Festival, SA Music Awards, Scouted, Space Jams, Umbrella Festival and Girls Rock! Adelaide Rock Camp.
In 2022, Jacquelyn was a recipient of Women in Music mentorship with Australian Independent Record Labels Association.
When she is not busy figuring out how to use an abacus, you will find her deeply involved in several textile projects with an objective to exhibit her work in the near future.
Damien has extensive experience in Front of House and Venue Management for Arts Organisations in Australia including Belvoir St Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Seymour Centre Sound Lab and Adelaide Festival Centre.
Damien is delighted to bring this experience to Nexus Arts and looks forward to hearing from artists wishing to perform at our venue. Please get in touch!
Keira J. Simmons (She/They) is an emerging South Australian sound designer based on unceded Kaurna Land. Their creative work in Speculative Soundwalking and live electronic performance explores engagement with place through sound.
As a freelance sound designer, she works with local and global artists on creative projects focusing on queerness, ecology, neurodivergence and embodies theatrical experiences.
Since 2024, she has served as Head Technician at Nexus Arts and Chairperson of Creative Original Music Adelaide. In both roles, they enjoy supporting and collaborating with artists and community members on an exciting variety of shows and events.
