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

Penny is responsible for strategic and commercial operations. She is a cultural collection and engagement specialist with over twenty years of experience in the heritage sector and brings to the team senior executive experience in project management, operations, customer engagement, digital solutions, marketing, and commercial growth.

Project Conservator - Sophie Lewincamp BAppSc (CultMatCons), PhD candidate

Sophie has over fifteen years in the field, working in many of Australia's leading cultural institutions including the National Library of Australia and the Australian War Memorial as well as in project management roles at Museums Victoria in Experience Production and at the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages. In 2013 and 2017, Sophie was awarded the AICCM Service to the Profession Award for student-community collaborative projects. For her PhD research at the University of Melbourne, Sophie has been investigating how conservators can better engage with community knowledge in a productive and equal way by combining extensive on-the-ground experience with academic research.

University Collections Special Projects Conservator - Ainslee Meredith BA (Hon), MC-CULMC, PhD candidate

Ainslee is currently undertaking research on best practice strategies for conservation workflow management in large organisations as well as completing her PhD at the University of Melbourne on public value and social justice in conservation. She holds a BA (Honours) and Masters in Cultural Materials Conservation specialising in paper conservation, and has worked at national, state and community archives in both preservation and collection access and research roles.

Laboratory Manager, Senior Conservator Paintings - 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 is interested is conservation of modern and contemporary art. She undertook specialist training at the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York). Vanessa also specialises in the conservation of Australian Indigenous art and has worked with Indigenous Art Centres across central and northern Australia.

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.

Laboratory Manager, Senior Conservator Paper and Parchment - Libby Melzer PhD candidate, BAppSc (CultMatCons), PMAICCM

Libby has over twenty years’ experience in the conservation of Paper and Parchment. Libby's Master of Art History (Research) from the University of Melbourne specialised in Medieval parchment, and is a current PhD Candidate at the University of Melbourne studying Medieval ink.

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 - Camielle Fitzmaurice MC-CULMC, BA (Hons)

Camielle is a paper and photograph specialist. She has worked privately in Australia and has specialist training in book conservation. Prior to joining the Grimwade team, she spent the last three years as a conservator at the National Library of Australia. Camielle also has a keen interest in studying new methods of aqueous treatment in the conservation of paper.

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.

Laboratory Manager, Senior Conservator Objects and Archaeology - Holly Jones-Amin PhD candidate, 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 has worked extensively with archaeological materials, on conservation projects in both the United States and Australia.  Evan was formally manager of the conservation lab for the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research. Additional interests include the treatment of metals, functional objects and large, immovable heritage - with an emphasis on integrating multidisciplinary approaches.

Assistant Conservator Objects and Textiles - Lisa Yeats MC-CULMC, BA

Lisa joined Grimwade Conservation Services in 2021. She is an objects and textiles conservator with experience working on a wide range of material types. She has a strong background in preventive conservation and preparing objects and textiles for display. She trained at the University of Melbourne and has worked in institutions and private conservation labs in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Principal Conservator, Objects and Textiles - Jacinta Brown MC-CULMC, BSc

Jacinta’s interest is in Asian arts (objects and textiles). Since 2009, Jacinta has divided her conservation work between Luang Prabang in Lao PDR, Australia, Doha and Myanmar. Training opportunities and collaborations have taken her to Hong Kong, Thailand and Hong Kong, where she focused on silk and traditional costume conservation.

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, Graduate (Conservation Studies)

Tina Kalliakmanis has a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from RMIT and a Postgraduate Certificate in Art Conservation Studies from the University of Melbourne. She has been with Grimwade Conservation Services for 13 years, her roles at the Centre include working in reception, administration and as a lab technician.