The Secretariat comprises a small team of committed staff who apply their knowledge and expertise to execute the IFACCA Strategy and meet its objectives, manage programmes and services, and ensure the smooth administration of the organisation. The Secretariat maintains a comprehensive overview of the international arts and culture landscape and serves as the central hub for the Federation. It nurtures relationships with – and between – members and creates trusted, confidential and informal spaces for collegial exchange. It designs and delivers programmes and resources that respond to members’ needs. And it provides members with trusted advisory services, informed by its unique bird’s-eye perspective. In addition, the Secretariat maintains relationships with international experts; partners with key organisations to extend the influence of the Federation; and regularly participates in international forums to lead global thought on arts and culture, profile the role of public agencies, and raise awareness of concerns shared by members and the sectors they support.
Magdalena Moreno Mujica, Executive Director
Magdalena has been IFACCA’s Executive Director since 2017. She is a Chilean cultural administrator and is also a member of the EU/UNESCO Expert Facility (2023-2026) for the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expression. She is the author of the chapter, Building resilient and sustainable cultural and creative sectors in the 2022 UNESCO Global Report, Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity – Addressing culture as a global public good.
Prior to her current role, Magdalena was Head of International Affairs at the National Council for Culture and the Arts, Chile (CNCA) – now the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Chile – and Ministerial Adviser on international affairs. In this role, she oversaw Chile’s international arts and cultural strategy; served as Programme Director of the 6th World Summit on Arts and Culture (Santiago, 2014); delivered Chile’s participation in three Venice Biennales; served on the Board of Fundación Imagen de Chile; and represented Chile on the IFACCA Board (2012-2014).
Before this Magdalena was based in Australia, where she was CEO of Kultour, the national peak body supporting cultural diversity in the arts (2008-2011); a member of the National Cultural Policy Taskforce for Creative Australia; and led an international initiative to strengthen south-south dialogue (The South Project, 2004-2008). She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne; is an alumna of the Asialink Leaders Program (2008) and the Australia Council for the Arts' Emerging Leaders Program (2010); has served on several Boards, including for Diversity Arts Australia (2016-2018).
Kate Nixon, Operations Manager
Kate joined the Secretariat as Operations Manager in June 2021. Prior to this, Kate was the Program Director at Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre in Canberra from 2016 to 2021, where she was involved in all aspects of the organisation, with a specific focus on delivery of the annual DESIGN Canberra festival.
In addition to her arts management experience, Kate is also a practicing glass artist. She is an active member of the national and international glass community, having served on the board of the Australian Association of Glass Artists (Ausglass) between 2015 and 2020, including as President from 2017 to 2020, playing a key role in the delivery of four national conferences. Prior to working in the arts, Kate’s background was in Human Resources in Sydney and Canberra, including recruitment, outplacement and account management.
Kate holds a BA Hons in Sociology from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2002) and a BVA Hons in Glass from the Australian National University (2013).
Sarah Bond, Senior Project Manager, 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture
Sarah Bond is an experienced cultural leader who joined the Secretariat in 2021 as Project Manager of the 9th World Summit on Arts and Culture, Sweden. She specializes in Australian and international programmes for contemporary art and culture. This includes exhibitions, artist projects, workshops, lectures, and cultural partnerships.
Sarah has delivered over 40 multi-disciplinary projects across 15 countries supporting the work of over 160 Australian artists. Country experience includes Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and Viet Nam.
Based in Melbourne, Sarah is a Research Fellow at CoVA (University of Melbourne). Between 2005 and 2001, Sarah was based at the University of Melbourne as the Director, Asialink Arts (2015-2018); Visual Art Director, Asialink Arts (2005-2015). Sector experience includes Consultant for Queenscliff Historical Museum (2021-2022); Consultant for Lyon Housemuseum and Galleries (2009-2020); and Curator at Craft Victoria (2000-2005). Sarah has served on various advisory and assessment committee across government, not for profit and business sectors. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Curatorship from the University of Melbourne.
Jessa Melicor, Research and Communications Manager
Jessa Melicor was appointed to the role of Research and Communications Manager in May 2024. Before this, Jessa worked in communications and management roles in the water and defence industries. She currently serves as a Board member for Compañía Pepa Molina.
From 2017 to 2021, Jessa worked at IFACCA in communications roles to support the delivery of the 8th World Summit on Arts and Culture in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and various IFACCA projects. Prior to working at IFACCA, Jessa worked as an editor across Art Edit and Art Collector magazines, representing the magazines at Art Basel Hong Kong and coordinating successful partnerships. In 2017, Jessa contributed to the Bayanihan Philippine Art Project as an artist and exhibition catalogue editor.
She holds a Bachelor of International Business, (Marketing major) from Macquarie University, and a Master of Art by coursework from UNSW Art and Design.
Angus Fitts, Project and Administrative Officer
Angus joined the Secretariat as a part-time Administrative Officer in January 2024 after completing an internship with IFACCA in late 2023. From August 2024, his role transitioned into an ongoing role within the Secretariat.
Angus has a strong background in customer support and administration and holds a Bachelor of Global Studies from the University of Technology Sydney. During his time at university, he developed an understanding of the cultural, political, and economic impacts of globalisation in professional contexts and honed his cross-cultural communication skills.
With a passion for culture and travel, Angus enjoys discovering new cultural experiences around the world and exploring the vibrant arts scene in Sydney, where he is currently based.
Diane Dodd, Regional Advisor
Diane Dodd is a Regional Advisor for IFACCA, having supported the coordination of the European Chapter of IFACCA for more than 10 years. In addition to her work with IFACCA she is President and co-Founder of IGCAT (International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism) and she leads an MA course in Cultural Institutions and Policies for the International University of Catalonia in Barcelona as well as an MA course on Events and Destination management for EUHTSTPol. Diane has worked in the cultural policy and management field for over 25 years and maintains relations with a number of important global and European institutions including UNESCO, UNWTO, European Commission, OEI, Commonwealth Foundation, Asia-Europe Foundation and many others. Earlier in her career she helped IFACCA create ConnectCP – an international online database of experts on cultural policy, planning and research which gave international networking opportunities to more than 1,200 experts from 128 countries. She has edited a number of books in the field of cultural policy and cultural management on subjects related to cultural management training, youth culture, eCulture, cultural citizenship and cultural tourism.
