AGM 2026 Change of Board Members
On Wednesday 17th June 2026 Western Riverina Arts (WRA) held its AGM, saying goodbye to our much treasured board member Oumi Karenga-Hewitt. At the same time we welcomed onto the board a much treasured artist in our region, Sharon De Valentin, who takes Oumi's place as the community member for Griffith. Other changes include welcoming Lyndall Ireland and Andrew Reynolds as Narrandera Shire Council Delegates, and Co-opting Susan Carey-Killham as a skills-based member.
Says Executive Director Aanya Whitehead: “I would like to say an enormous thankyou to Oumi Karenga-Hewitt who leaves the Board in 2026 after years of service to the organisation. We are sorry to see Oumi go and happy that she is still very much a part of the regional arts scene and not going away. Oumi has been a dedicated board member supporting every facet of the program, the governance and the strategies of Western Riverina Arts. She served as Chair for two years from 2023 to 2025, and represented the organisation at the highest levels of government and industry. Oumi will be very missed!”
Oumi delivered a moving and farewell statement: “I am forever grateful for my time on the Western Riverina Arts board, it is an organisation that will always be close to my heart and the passion shown by our board, staff and creative community is something I will take with me into everything I do moving forward. The role has both taught and given me a lot, and I hope that I have added value in my tenure.
One of the things I am most proud of is my engagement with young people in the region, they are the future in so many ways, I encourage everyone on the board to take the time to get to know and actively engage with young people and use your access and resources to connect them to as much creativity, art and culture - from as young as possible - across all community domains.
On a personal level, the team at WRA were an essential support for me during one of the most challenging periods of my life. There were days where their presence made all the difference.
One thing that I want to leave this board with is a request, a plea if you will. To build awareness around cultural diversity in our communities - in the programs we support and deliver, in our organisational development, community engagement, and in our advocacy. One of the reasons I chose to leave the region was because of racism, ignorance and systemic challenges for culturally and racially marginalised people.
Finally, I will be a lifelong advocate for WRA and regional arts and am thrilled to have landed in a role at Creative Plus Business, one that allows me to continue working in this space and remain connected to WRA and the RADO Network.
Farewell for now.” (Oumi Karenga-Hewitt, 17.6.26)
Aanya Whitehead also expressed her thanks to the rest of the board members for "continuing to connect and support arts and culture across our region with knowledge, expertise and goodwill. We are welcoming some new board members and delegates and look forward to working with them in the coming years."
Western Riverina Arts 2026 Board:
Karen Barrett - Chair and Leeton Shire Council Representative
Cr Jenny Ellis - Vice Chair and Griffith City Council Representative
Anthony Morton - Treasurer and Co-opted Member
Sharon De Valentin - Griffith Community Member
Robyn Hutchinson - Leeton Community Member
Lyndall Ireland - Narrandera Shire Council Delegate
Andrew Reynolds - Narrandera Shire Council Delegate
Cr Sue Ruffles - Narrandera Community Member
Eden Hercus - Murrumbidgee Council Representative
Roslyn Lockhart - Murrumbidgee Community Member
Susan Carey-Killham - Co-opted Skills-based Board Member
Please note: The Spotlight Series features original ideas, themes and writing, which is entirely the work of each featured contributor. Western Riverina Arts may use AI tools to assist with spelling and grammar where needed. Views expressed belong to the individual expressing those views and not to the organisation.
Photo: Supplied
