Say hello to new CWC president Amber Bonney

Amber Bonney wears many hats. As well as being the force behind her creative studio Edison Agency , she is a mother, wife, sister, strategic, designer, artist, writer, planner, mentor and mediator. Amber now adds the role of CWC President to that list. Prior to accepting the role , she was on the AGDA Victoria Council and spearheaded the development of their Professional Mentorship program. We chat with Amber on work, life, and the things in between.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and bred in Melbourne, a girl of the mid 70’s who is now resenting my slow metabolism and thickening waistline and enjoying my sparkling wine more than ever! I have 3 children aged 16, 14 and 4 and my husband and I have a blended ‘modern’ family so life’s pretty full-on… hence my love of sparkling wine! I come from a large family of 5 girls so life has always been big and hectic and I learnt early only how to hustle through life to get my needs met. As the middle child I have always been self-driven and independent and have developed strong mediation skills which have been useful as a business owner.

What do you do?

I am the founder of The Edison Agency, a strategic brand and design consultancy with offices in Melbourne and Sydney. We use strategy and design to help businesses make positive change. My role is Managing Director and Head of Strategy and I am responsible for the executive creative direction of all major brand projects. Over the past 22 years, I am proud to have been influential in helping iconic Australian and international brands maintain relevancy, define their purpose and vision, and connect with their audiences in a more meaningful way.

How did you get into this industry?

I’m a communication designer by trade, an Alumni of Swinburne University, and have been blessed with a single minded career focus all my life. My father introduced me to the industry through his career in the marketing and packaging industry. Since the time I was 14 and went to my first University Open day, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

When you get to know me, you will understand why people refer to me sometimes as “a bull at a gate”. My mind moves quickly (great for creative strategy and thinking on ones feet) but it can be mentally and physically exhausting so I do try to manage my overactive brain with regular mindfulness practices using my phone app (I appreciate the irony) and of course the odd vino! I’m naturally intuitive which helps me forge strong and lasting personal and business relationships, some of my current clients are people I’ve worked with for over 15 years. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I like to schedule my time and live and die by my diary! My day is spent straddling client meetings, internal planning of projects, financial planning, and working closely with both our Group Account Director, Design Director and CFO. We are a small team of 10, so about 10% of my time would also be dedicated to making decisions and planning around people and culture.

Typically when we have a large meaty project starting I am consumed by research and strategy phases – I tend to be more involved in the first half of a project to establish the vision and creative precedence and then required less as the project evolves. I have a highly skilled team of people propping me up!

What is the most important aspect of your job?

I am inspired by the potential design has to transform people, culture and business. Knowing that our work is helping make positive change for our clients is uber rewarding. Also, I am a sucker for complex design challenges. When I’m working on something difficult, I completely immerse myself in that business, brand, problem and deconstruct it until I can see and understand all the inputs and components. Only when I’ve done this can I put it back together and develop a strategic solution. I am obsessed with understanding “why” and go to enormous lengths as part of the research phase to really get under the skin of a brand or problem.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?  

I’m a proud feminist and I’m intolerant of the chauvinism our industry (and culture in general) is still accepting but I do see change and have high hopes for the world my daughter will grow up in. I’m a firm believer that it takes women banding together in support and advocacy of one another to truly make change. We are powerful, clever and innately resilient and this is why I believe in organisations like Creative Women’s Circle to shape the way women interact with each other, and within their industries.

What do you do in your ‘down time’ (and do you have a guilty pleasure)?

I spend most of my down time with my children down in coastal Victoria where I live. I am re-energized by the beach and am looking forward to summer where I can swim, play lawn bowls and make pina-coladas at home (guilty pleasure). My husband and I are both passionate mid-century design enthusiasts and we spent allot of time reading books, magazine and watching architecture and design-based TV series.

Best creative memory?

Seeing the first ad I designed in the weekend newspaper – think it was back in 1998! I think I still have it somewhere.

What would you tell your younger self?

You teach people how to treat you. Don’t accept sub-standard behaviour as it creates a pattern that’s hard to break. This is an important message for young women especially in the face of male dominated environments and with the rise of domestic violence issues.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to break into the industry you are in?

Be brave. Take risks. Don’t be afraid to ask the “dumb” questions. Find a mentor. Research every potential employer, every client, every project – always be prepared and understand the “why” in every design challenge.

Meet the CWC board: Liz Anderson

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory

We recently sat down and interviewed our new board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Liz Anderson, board member and Head of Events for CWC.

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

I run a tour company which specialises in designing and operating journeys on the Trans Siberian Railway, through Mongolia, the Silk Road and the Caucasus. Outside of work I enjoy hand embroidery and painting.

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

I was teaching in Japan and wanted to travel back to the UK overland so ended up on a Trans Mongolian and Central Asian adventure. A few years after being a Management Consultant in London I made the switch into the travel industry and became a Tour Leader in Russia. Since then I’ve worked in all parts of our business with particular focus on product development, operations and marketing before completing my MBA and becoming Managing Director.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I was looking for a community where I could meet creative people and explore more of my own creative side. I believe strongly in championing those in small businesses so it was a good fit!

What has your experience been being a part of the CWC community?

From my first meeting I have been awed by the breadth of experience and interests of members and how welcoming everyone has been.

How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?

CWC’s ethos of championing and connecting women truly shines through and the support offered through the group should provide value to all.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

I confess I do have a soft sport for the brutalist Soviet architecture ... too much time spent in Russia! Most days I love anything colourful and at the moment am loving the work of Monika Forsberg and Helen Dardik - they make me happy!

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

By always believing I can finish the “big project”... it normally results in a lot of very late nights! 

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

I would love to create embroidery designs inspired by textiles from around the world.

Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years?

I believe we can continue to grow and connect more creative women across Australia and provide opportunities for them to meet, share and learn together.

Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?

We have lots of exciting things planned as ideas are brimming over on the new board. It’s also a great time to voice where you would like to see CWC grow to.

Liz leads a tour company specialising in the Trans-Siberian Railway, Mongolia and the Silk Road, Sundowners Overland. Her time spent living and working overseas, primarily in these regions as well as Japan and Central America, has led to a keen interest in the creative diversity, particularly in textiles, from around the world. With an arts degree, MBA and human centred design qualifications, Liz is delighted to bring a healthy appetite of curiosity to the team about all of the areas CWC members work in. Liz is sure her tenure will also inspire her to turn her creative ventures into more than just hobbies.

Meet the CWC board: Anika Cook

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory

We recently sat down and interviewed our board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Anika Cook, the Treasurer of the CWC board!

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

I'm currently taking “long service leave” after wrapping up The Gently Unfurling Sneak, the design business that I ran for twelve years. I'm using this time to take a breather and explore new creative possibilities.

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

When I was studying for my Bachelor of Creative Arts at the University of Melbourne I started experimenting with screen printing and collage and selling little bits and pieces at local markets. After graduating I had a brief dalliance with working in IT (which I was not remotely qualified for) and it gave me the motivation to get my business off the ground. I worked part-time doing web and graphic design at Craft Victoria whilst I built The Gently Unfurling Sneak up, slowly growing until I had to take the leap to being full-time. And then the leap to having staff! Eventually we grew to offer fashion, accessories, cards and artworks, selling online as well as through retailers and then opening a dedicated shop in North Melbourne in 2015.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I stumbled across the website a few years ago and promptly joined up so I could listen to all of the event recordings – I think I was at a moment where I needed some perspective and inspiration for my business. I then went to a morning tea and fell in love with the community… and the cake.

What has your experience been being a part of the CWC community?

It feels like I have really found my people. I found that 'traditional' business people didn't really understand the unique trials of running a small creative business, and fine artists or hobby makers didn't necessarily understand what it's like to make things for a living. The CWC community can give advice, commiserate and celebration all in the one place.

How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?

It's incredibly valuable. The advice, camaraderie and support that you receive as a member cannot be found anywhere else.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

As an artist I admire Hannah Höch, one of the only female Dadaists, an originator of photomontage and someone who used her art politically, during the Weimar Republic and Third Reich in Germany.

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

By trying new things. I seem to want to avoid repeating myself so I often find that I've gone off on a creative tangent without realising… sometimes too far! But I wouldn't have it any other way.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

That's what I'm trying to figure out now… there are a lot of ideas swirling around but nothing has settled yet.

Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years? Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?

The new board is full of beans and excellent ideas so there's going to be a lot happening! We have lots of goodies planned to help people in their businesses and careers, from the part-time and emerging to fully established. We'd love to see you on board.

Anika is a designer, illustrator and collagist. She was the founder of fashion label The Gently Unfurling Sneak, which recently closed after twelve years in Melbourne and had a particular focus on intricate prints and the use of vintage imagery. Prior to starting her own business, Anika worked in the art and design sectors with Craft Victoria and freelance web design. Anika holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Melbourne. Connect with Anika via Instagram.

Meet the CWC board: Fiona Brand

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory

We recently sat down and interviewed our board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Fiona Brand, the Secretary of the CWC board.

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

Founder of Brand by Name, an award-winning brand identity, graphic design & web design studio based in Melbourne, Australia

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

I’m a largely self-taught, hands-on graphic designer. I started out as a Finished Artist in the early 90s, in the last few years of paste-up, cow gum, spray adhesive and bromides. Over the years I have worked in various design-related industries – Advertising agencies, Children’s television, Public Relations and Marketing agencies. On April Fools’ Day in 2012, at a tiny school desk in my lounge room and a 2011 iMac, I started Brand By Name.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I discovered CWC in 2011, when I had recently moved to Melbourne, and was looking to connect with other creatives.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

I admire anyone who tries to make a living as an artist! Right now that person would be Jess Thom – I just saw her show ‘Backstage in Biscuitland’ – it was joyous, moving & laugh out loud funny. The best theatre I’ve seen in ages. http://www.britishcouncil.us/tourettesheros-backstage-biscuit-land

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

I usually have a side project or two on the go.

What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

If I weren’t a graphic designer, I would be a chocolatier

Fiona is a highly experienced designer with 20 years’ involvement in the design, advertising, web and interactive industries. Fiona’s strengths lie in her depth of knowledge across a variety of design areas: her understanding of interactive and accessibility issues on the web, knowing her way around printing processes, how to achieve a brilliant result within a tight budget, and a design style that adapts itself to every different client. In 2011 she founded Brand by Name, an award winning creative design studio, providing design expertise across branding, print and web communication. Connect with Fiona or check out her work via her website, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Meet the CWC board: Jane Connory

2 min read

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory

We recently sat down and interviewed our new board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Jane Connory, the new Vice President of the CWC board!

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

I am currently a full time PhD candidate at Monash where I am exploring the visibility of women in Australian graphic design. I also teach in the Communication Design degree, honours years and masters programs there and are employed two days a week as the National Head of Communications at the Design Institute of Australia.

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

I have been a potter, an illustrator, an art director in advertising agencies, a camp councillor in the US, a senior designer in publishing and a Program Manager at a private university – but it all started doing colouring-in competitions at primary school.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I was keen to engage with other creative women and help to champion their contributions to the Australian design industry. I approached the outgoing President, Tess Mccabe , to run a work shop at a national event I ran at Billy Blue College of Design, which celebrated women in design with NYC designer Jessica Walsh.

What has your experience been being a part of the CWC community?

It sounds a little cliché but it is really like finding your tribe.

How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?

CWC offers a safe space for women to meet and share creative hobbies and careers without the ego that can exist in other parts of the creative industries.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

Eirene Mort was a designer in Sydney in the 1900s who designed logos, textiles, typography and many beautiful objects typical to this Arts and Crafts movement. But Eirene was also integral to pulling creative groups of women together and providing platforms for education and to exhibit their uniquely Australian work. A founding member of The Society of Arts and Crafts in NSW, Eirene left a legacy of championing creative women that I am proud to see the CWC continuing.

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

By getting myself out the door every morning with 2 kids in tow.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

I often fantasise about going into business with a friend of mine as a florist.

Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years?

Our fantastic new board want to continue the amazing legacy of the outgoing team by adding to the benefits open to our current members and giving them lots of reasons to stay engaged.

Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?

We have some exciting things planned which just might include craft markets and Christmas presents!

Jane is a PhD candidate at Monash University, and is working towards a gender inclusive history of Australian graphic design. She has been a practising designer and illustrator in the advertising, branding and publishing sectors, in both London and Melbourne, since 1997. When she’s not teaching at Monash University you’ll find her being the National Head of Communications at the Design Institute of Australia. Find out more about Jane and her work via her website, podcast, or check out her research here.

Meet the CWC board: Samantha Jayaweera

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connory

We recently sat down and interviewed our new board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Samantha Jayaweera, the new President of the CWC board!

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

I work as a Graphic & Digital Designer at Intrepid Group with the APAC Marketing Team. Outside of work I really enjoy pursing craft based projects like quilting, screen printing and collage.

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

At uni, I studied a Bachelor of Multimedia (Media Studies) and shortly after completed a Master of Design (Graphic Communication). After graduating, I worked at a small boutique medical publisher that publishes guidelines that recommend medical dosages and therapies. This gave me a priceless foundation in typesetting and layout design which directly led to my role at Penguin Random House (PRH) as a specialised typesetter and layout designer. I worked at PRH for nearly five years where I worked on over 400 works of fiction and non-fiction across the Adult and Young Readers lists. Last year, I opted for a new challenge by moving out of publishing design and joined Intrepid Group as a marketing designer. I am really enjoying my position working with a multi-disciplinary team, learning more about digital marketing and getting the opportunity to creatively lead marketing campaigns.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I was working in a previous job where I wasn't getting any professional development or access to industry mentors. I decided I needed to look for opportunities outside of work, preferably in a volunteer position. I found Creative Women's Circle through some research, read about the amazing ladies on the board on the CWC website and volunteered shortly after. 

What has your experience been being a part of the CWC community?

I joined CWC because I wanted to surround myself with creative, intelligent, kick-arse women that could empathise with and advise me about my professional path. I found this and so much more! Among the group of incredibly talented women on the board, I found some of the most supportive mentors who epitomise the open, kind and generous spirit of the CWC community. 

How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?

In my mind, the value of CWC is best described by the creative community you are enveloped by. It is a really open, kind and generous community of women that want to support each other through connection, collaboration and championing each other's successes.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

I really admire Bjork for her avant-garde approach to everything she creates. She is a classically trained musician that has pushed the boundaries of music, art, fashion and even dabbled in acting. She is constantly evolving and doesn't let her success or failure dictate where or what she should do. 

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

I see myself as a creative problem solver and over the years I have come to realise that I work best when navigating around constraints. I have often found that some of my proudest results were born from extremely constrained circumstances where I didn't settle for an average option.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

I have always really loved patterns and screen printing so I think I would pursue textile design or surface pattern design.  

Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years? Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?

Creative Women's Circle is a rare combination of creative community, friendship and professional development. We are so proud of each of our creative community and want to tell the world about each one of them. At present, we are in the midst of reimagining member benefits, events and resources we offer to better suit the needs of our dynamic member base. So be sure to sign up or renew your membership to take advantage of these new changes. Now is also a great time to volunteer with us and develop skill-sets with a bunch of super friendly ladies. Plus there are always snacks! 

Sam is a graphic designer with experience in editorial layout design, typesetting, marketing digital design and production. As an avid learner of all things, Sam has embarked on further study in user experience design, surface pattern design and digital design. She is endlessly inspired by beautiful, thoughtful, innovative human-centred design across all creative industries and strives to imbue her work with the same love, devotion and meticulous attention to detail. Connect with Sam via her Instagram or LinkedIn.

Meet the CWC team: Bec Mackey

Team CWC! Left to right: Alessandra Azzone, Yvonne Meng, Samantha Jayaweera, Anika Cook, Fiona Brand, Bec Mackey, Liz Anderson, Jane Connery

We recently sat down and interviewed our new board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Before we do though, today we are excited to introduce you to Bec Mackey, our new Content and Marketing Manager!

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

My new job is Content and Marketing Manager for CWC! So far I’ve been loving working alongside the talented board members, engaging with our awesome members, and I’m looking forward to working to champion, connect and support more amazing creative women through our new marketing and member initiatives. My personal creative pursuit is writing, and I’ve just started an Instagram account called @_conversationswithmysister to experiment with a bit of microblogging. I have a one year old daughter so on the days I’m not working I’m spending most of my time playing with (and running after) her!

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

I started my career working as a Producer making TV commercials. I eventually moved into Television for a while, and then gave up my producing hat in favour of working in business and management in TV and Film at ABC and Screen Australia respectively. During this time I also did my teaching dip ed. I absolutely love to teach but after finishing my diploma I was drawn back into the screen industry. Eventually I realised I had pretty much given up all creativity in favour of more linear business and operational roles, so I quit my full time job and went on a bit of a journey of self discovery. Since then I’ve freelanced as a producer again, served on the CWC board, starting writing again on my own blog, done some teaching, and in the past few years, worked in a very similar role as to my current role with CWC at an Arts Education organisation which is also membership based. A year ago I had my daughter and it helped clarify that working with people and organisations with similar values to my own is really important to me. My time is suddenly very precious and I want to spend it wisely.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

During my journey of self discovery as above! I came along to the first ever board info day that Tess McCabe held and it was love at first sight. I knew straight away I wanted to be involved.

How has your experience been with CWC?

When I attended the board info day back in 2015, it was at a time when I didn’t feel I had a lot of colleagues or friends who understood where I was at in a career or creative sense. I was blown away by the combination of Tess’s vision for CWC and the inclusivity within the CWC community that she had created. That day she brought together a group of brilliant and supportive women, many of whom I am lucky to call friends to this day. Throughout the past few years I have always felt equal parts supported and inspired by the CWC members, board and volunteers. It really is a special organisation.

How would you describe the value of membership with CWC?

Its so worthwhile. Besides the list of benefits, there is the added bonus of being part of such a beautiful community. Our members often find themselves collaborating with other women they have connected with via CWC, or volunteering with our organisation to build on their skills and their network. There are many possibilities beyond the events, discounts and resources - all of which are brilliant too of course!

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

I just love Cleo Wade, the artist/poet/feminist.  She is one of those people who has found a way to articulate brilliantly what so much of the world is feeling at the moment, and her success is in part due to her genuine kindness and drive to create a connected community. Cleo, along with other artists who use Instagram to soothe our collective soul, showed me that I can write from my heart and still value activism, research and intellect. Its a lie that these two sides of ourselves don’t go together, and art is where they best meet.  

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

By getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things. It’s a bit of a cliché, but it works.

What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current career? What is your ‘other’ dream job/business? 

I sometimes fantasise about finding some great properties around Victoria to turn into Airbnbs that I would manage. That, or running an amazing social enterprise. You know, the small goals!

Where do you see Creative Women’s Circle heading over the next two years? Why is this a great time to renew/sign up or volunteer to join the CWC community?

The legacy set up by the outgoing board is awesome and inspiring. The next two years will be an exciting time of building on the work the previous board has done and we expect a lot of growth for CWC. There will be new and more widespread events, exciting new initiatives for members and a LOT of connecting to do. Come, join us now and be part of something wonderful!

Bec Mackey is a writer, producer and teacher. She has worked in media and the arts for over a decade as a producer, in arts administration/management and arts education. Bec believes in the power of words – to connect, to galvanise and to heal. She has particular interests in psychology, storytelling, and working with and advocating for women. Bec combines most of these loves in her part time role as the Content and Marketing Manager at Creative Women’s Circle and via her Instagram account @conversationswithmysister. By far her biggest joy and learning curve to date is her beautiful one year old daughter.

Say hi to Bec on Instagram @becmackey_writer and @_conversationswithmysister.