Sebastian Vanderzeil [vice president]

I am a long time West End resident having grown up here and now raising a family on the Kurilpa peninsula. I am interested in maintaining the critical social fabric of the area and building an urban community that is diverse, liveable, safe and sustainable. I joined WECA to help deliver that ambition.

HARMONIE DOWNES [SECRETARY]

My background includes the arts and community sectors with senior arts management roles and 20 years experience including qualifications in the arts and business. I have lived in Kurilpa and surrounds since 1997. I am a co-parent of a secondary school student (and a cat!) and my interests include music, writing, nature and sustainability. I joined WECA to help deliver celebratory events and to help guide and support the great work WECA does within community through significant projects and initiatives.

Nathan Cox [TREASURER]

Having lived in and around West End for most of my adult life I’ve appreciated the many weird and wonderful things West End has to offer. I hope to contribute to the continuance of these events, initiatives and unique culture of the area through working with WECA, utilising my background in finance and business advisory.  I believe it is vital to the health of a neighbourhood to have the people within it making the choices for its future, and look forward to seeing the ongoing results of WECA’s work in this area.

MAEVE LEJEUNE [BOARD MEMBER]

I lived in West End for 26 years before being priced out of the area and moving to a sharehouse in a suburb nearby with four friends. Being on the board of WECA helps me to contribute and stay connected to a community that I love. I recently began my first year of teaching and have a wonderful and incredibly chatty year 6 class. Before that, I drew people’s houses and also some icons of West End and I’m hoping to eventually find more time to do a bit of that again.

Paula Hardie [BOARD MEMBER]

I’m a community-led strategic designer and researcher. I’ve worked in the areas of food security, homelessness, waste, education, community engagement, and First Nations communications. I have always lived in Meanjin, in or nearby the Kurilpa area, and have two red cattle dogs, Jilly and Rowdy (Orleigh Dog Park regulars). Through WECA I’m driven to strengthen our community’s liveability and climate resilience for the generations to come.

Emma Iwinska [BOARD MEMBER]

I was born on Wurundjeri country and my family comes from Poland. I have lived in Kurilpa for the last 6+ years where I rent a great old Queenslander, with my two children and cat. My background is in health and higher education and I am currently the CEO of a not-for-profit organisation. My work focusses on structural change, improving health outcomes and health equity for women, and creating inclusive communities free from violence and discrimination, where all people are resourced to live their best life. I love working collaboratively to make the world a better place.

JAY MOONEY [BOARD MEMBER]

I have lived in West End for the last three years and I’m thoroughly enjoying being close to the CBD, Southbank theatres, galleries and museums.

Professionally I work in IT and enjoy working on a startup, photography and gardening in my free time. Being a member of WECA allows me to share my skills to make where I live more livable.

PAUL KING [BOARD MEMBER]

I have had a long association with Kurilpa/WestEnd, starting with my Parents who moved here after migrating from Estonia after WWII.  I moved here in 1990 and my two sons were born and commenced Primary School here. I worked in Entertainment Promotion at that time, but most of my other work has been Social Justice based. I moved back to live and work here 3 years ago after time in regional Queensland and overseas. I love live music, and the performance, art, and culture that West End has that in spades. I joined WECA because I was concerned about the continuing amenity of our community in the face of over development, and to support the arts, culture and multi culturalism which we, and so many visitors, enjoy.