Hunter Writers Centre is an incorporated, not-for-profit association
Hunter Writers Centre Board
Dr Marcus Rodrigs
President
Marcus has over 28 years work experience in academia and consulting. During his consulting work, his industry clients included banking and investment, software development, power generation, electronics, government, research, retail and not-for-profit organisations. After his move from consulting to academia, Marcus is now a Senior Academic at the University of Newcastle. His passion for accounting has earned him recognition and a 2019 Australian Award for University Teaching, Universities Australia, Government of Australia, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.
Dr Mark Lock
Vice President
Mark J Lock (BSc, MPH, PhD) is a First Nations (Ngiyampaa) Australian.
He advocates for improving the presence of First Nations Peoples’ voices in literature. His research career focussed on governance structures and Aboriginal peoples’ participation through cultural safety reforms. Mark loves creative writing in poetry, short stories and novels. As a developing professional editor, he advises on cultural safety
to help artists empower their creative expression.
Grant Palmer
Treasurer
Grant is a veteran with over 30 years of service in the Regular Army and Army Reserve. He is an advocate for veteran homelessness and the treatment of PTSD. On discharge from the Regular Army, Grant worked in various management roles in the energy and mining industries.
Grant is actively involved in the creative arts, specifically writing and music. and will publish an anthology of poetry in 2022. He is a member of the University of Newcastle Jazz Orchestra and Orchestra NOVA.
Karly Zacharia
Secretary
PhD Candidate (Nutrition & Dietetics) at University of Newcastle. Karly is a researcher examining the role of nutrition in the prevention of stroke. Karly works alongside stroke survivors to create a program of works that is accessible to people of all abilities. She applied to join HWC Board to be an advocate for people with disabilities to help make the arts accessible for everyone.
John Church
An experienced Company Director with more than 35 years of hybrid experience, combining marketing and public relations with vast experience as a TV and Radio Journalist, reporting and presenting. John brings over 9 years of Executive Board experience in the public and private sectors and a history of business growth and acumen.
Sher Campbell
Sher is a retired law lecturer; Honorary, Exec Committee Member NSW Women Lawyers.
Rural and remote outreach with practitioners is part of Sher’s commitment to external engagement. She is co-investigator in the report on ‘Becoming Wiser Women: Educational aspirations and participation of women of reproductive age in regional, rural and remote communities.’ The project is designed to address equity and educational access for Indigenous people of Australia.
Our Staff
Karen Crofts
Director
Karen has been director of HWC since 2012. She holds a Masters degree in Writing from the University of Newcastle. Karen is passionate about connecting the Arts with important social issues of the Hunter: reconciliation, homelessness, disability, grief, loss, and trauma.
Keighley Bradford
Media
Keighley is the social media manager at HWC. She has a Masters in Creative Industries from the University of Newcastle specialising in Writing, Publishing, and Marketing.
Jacqueline Williams
Bookkeeper
Jacqueline is HWC Bookkeeper. She has 30+ years experience working with Not-for-Profit organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters in Business Administration. Jacqueline is also a Director & Consultant for Business Network International (BNI) in the Hunter Region – an International Referral Marketing and Networking membership-based organisation. 
Jasmine Sullivan Administration and Retail
Jasmine is a current student at the University of Newcastle, studying a Bachelor of Arts in History and English. She completed an internship at Lighthouse Arts during its launch in 2021 and is now employed by us.
She hopes to undertake further study in history and pursue a career in research or conservation.
Helen Blackney
Volunteer
Helen prepares our workshops, operates our bookshop and researches writerly articles for our members.
Her background is in banking and customer service.
