Our people

Director - Professor Robyn Sloggett AM, PhD, Ass DipMatCons, BA (Hons), PMAICCM

As Director of Grimwade Conservation Services, Robyn manages the diverse conservation, teaching and research programs of Grimwade Conservation Services. These programs include responsibility for the conservation of the cultural collections of the University of Melbourne and the provision of a large program for external clients, as well as delivery of the only comprehensive post-graduate conservation professional program in the Australasia-Pacific region.

General Manager - Penny Tripp BEd(VisArt), PGDipArts(ArtCur)

Penny is responsible for strategic and commercial operations. She is an engagement specialist with over twenty years of experience in the major event, tourism and creative industries and brings to the team senior executive experience in strategy, project management, operations, customer engagement, digital solutions, marketing, and commercial growth.

Team Leader, Painting Conservation - Cushla Hill BAppSc (CultMatCons), PMAICCM

Cushla has worked within various Australasian National Institutions and has extensive experience in private conservation consultancy. Her conservation and research interests include the materials and techniques of early twentieth century Australian artist.

Principal Conservator, Paintings - Caroline Fry BAppSc (CultMatCons)

Caroline Fry has worked in the museum sector for over 30 years and has a longstanding interest in the local art scene. Caroline has worked in Vietnam, where she conserved a significant oil painting in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi. More recently Caroline attended the Royal Collections Studies program in the United Kingdom.

Principal Conservator, Paintings - Vanessa Kowalski BAppSc (CultMatCons), BCA, PMAICCM

Vanessa has over 20 years experience in the conservation of paintings, with specialist expertise in the conservation of contemporary artworks and Australian Indigenous paintings. Vanessa has worked with Indigenous Art Centres across central and northern Australia, public collections across South-East Asia, and contemporary art collections in New York (Museum of Modern Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum). Vanessa undertakes materials research for art attribution as well as heritage architecture projects.

Graduate Conservator, Paintings - Jessica Walsh MC-CULMC, BA (Hons)

Jessica is a recent graduate of the University of Melbourne with a Masters in Cultural Materials Conservation specialising in paintings conservation. She has worked with several institutions and private practices both nationally and internationally, including New Zealand and America since completing her studies.

Team Leader, Paper Conservation - Libby Melzer PhD candidate, BAppSc (CultMatCons), PMAICCM

Libby has over twenty years’ experience in the conservation of Paper and Parchment. She has a Masters in Art History (Research) from the University of Melbourne specialising in Medieval parchment, and has worked on specialist collections throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Principal Conservator, Paper and Photographs - Katy Glen BAppSc (CultMatCons), BA (Hons), PMAICCM

Katy joined Grimwade Conservation Services in 2003. Her areas of specialisation include the conservation treatment of nineteenth-century photography and the preservation of digital prints. Katy has furthered her professional development by attending conferences and courses both in Australia and internationally.

Paper and Books Conservator - Peter Mitchelson MC-CULMC, PGDip (Hons), GDip, DipEd, PMAICCM

Peter has been Conservator of Paper and Books at Grimwade Conservation Services since 2014 having previously worked at Artlab in South Australia and the National Library of Australia in Canberra. He has additional arts industry experience in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Paper and Photographs Conservator - Noni Zachri MC-CULMC, BA (Hons), PMAICCM

Noni has worked in the conservation of paper and photographic materials since 2010. Joining the Grimwade Centre in 2012, she provides conservation advice and services for both University collections and external clients. In addition, Noni has a strong background in preventive conservation, focusing on risk management, environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness and has delivered many workshops on collection care and handling, disaster preparedness and recovery.

Team Leader, Object Conservation - Dr Holly Jones-Amin PhD, BAppSc (CultMatCons), BA

Holly has over twenty years experience, predominantly working on archaeological materials, indigenous and world cultural objects. As an Archaeological Conservator Holly has worked in Australia, Italy, the Middle East, South-east Asia and Central Asia. Holly engages with multiple archaeological communities in her work.

Principal Conservator Objects - Dr Evan Tindal PhD, MC-CULMC, BA

Evan is an objects conservator whose broad expertise encompasses archaeological materials, outdoor sculpture, built heritage and emerging technologies. He managed the conservation lab for the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research before joining GCS on a range of post-excavation projects in 2014, where his remit has since expanded to include the conservation of fine art sculptural works and elements of heritage architecture. Evan obtained his PhD from the University of Melbourne in 2019, undertaking research on 3D printed materials (their conservation and their merits for use in conservation practice) and his interest in the emerging technology has seen it employed within his own practice. He maintains a strong interest in traditional and heritage methods of fabrication, and frequently seeks to collaborate with practitioners in these areas to deliver conservation outcomes in thoughtful and innovative ways.

Assistant Conservator Objects - Ellie Urrutia Bernard MC-CULMC, BFA

Ellie joined Grimwade Conservation Services in early 2022 after returning to Melbourne from Darwin. Formerly a conservator at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Ellie has broad conservation experience working with a wide range of material types. She has a strong background in collection management, exhibitions and conservation treatment. She was trained at the University of Melbourne and has worked as an objects conservator in both Australia and the UK.

Principal Conservator, Textiles - Dr Reyhane Mirabootalebi PhD, MC-CULMC, BSc

Reyhane is an objects and textiles conservator. She has a PhD in Preservation Studies from the University of Delaware, USA (2021) and an M.A. in Cultural Materials Conservation from the University of Melbourne, Australia (2011). She has broad experience relating to conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, and worked with several national and international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, the Oriental Institute Chicago University at the National Museum of Kabul Afghanistan, the Heritage Conservation Centre Singapore, and the National Museum of Australia. Her research interest focuses on Middle Eastern textile traditions, women weavers, and the politics of carpets making in Iranian societies.

Frame Conservator - Jordi Casasayas BFA

Jordi specialises in Frame Conservation and the rehousing of paintings and mounting works on paper. Jordi also designs and constructs custom-made mounting and housing systems for a range of objects and materials such as bark paintings, scrolls and parchments, as well as custom-makes storage boxes, folders and display systems.

Conservator Objects and Archaeology - Marica Mucic MC-CULMC, BA (Hons)

Marica specialises in the conservation of three-dimensional objects. She is passionate about the preservation of cultural heritage and the conservation of archaeological materials. Marica is also interested in ancient Near Eastern archaeology and has worked on a range of historical archaeological assemblages across Victoria.

Tina Kalliakmanis BA (IndDes), PGCertArts(Cons)

Tina Kalliakmanis has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from RMIT and a Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation from the University of Melbourne. She has been with Grimwade Conservation Services for over 15 years and manages administration, finance, procurement and OHS for the team as well as  assisting with conservation treatment and collection management duties.