Executive Leadership Team

Collette Brennan commenced with the NTAV in October 2024. Previously she was the CEO and Artistic Director of the Abbotsford Covent. She was the founding Chair of the Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory Board and is currently a member of the International Society for Performing Arts Board.

Previously she was: Director of International Development, Acting Executive Director of Arts Development, and Director of Market Development at the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia); Executive Director of the internationally renowned contemporary circus Circa; the founding Creative Director of The Edge, State Library of Queensland’s program for children and young people; General Manager of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Out of the Box Festival for 3 to 8 year olds, and; Executive Officer of Youth Arts Queensland, the state’s peak body for youth arts and cultural development.

Collette has also worked in schools as a drama and history teacher, as a lecturer with various universities and as a youth arts worker in a range of school and community contexts with children and young people.

Collette is passionate about connecting people to heritage. Through connecting to the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of our past, we form our identity and wellbeing today and find inspiration that helps us define our future.

Collette and the team manage our heritage responsibilities, programs and services with meticulous and rigorous care. Whilst undertaking this vital and significant work we are motivated by our understanding that it is for the benefit of people and our community.

Collette is proud that NTAVs places are for Victorians to reflect, learn, celebrate and be inspired and she is focused on conserving, protecting, and creating memories with and for all Victorians from yesterday to today and tomorrow.

Tim joined the NTAV in late 2023 to lead the People & Culture team in delivering best practice policies, processes and systems ensuring the NTAV is an employer of choice for our staff and volunteers. 

Tim has a Bachelor of Business majoring in HR (Monash) and has led HR teams in a variety of industries including law, health, financial services and telecommunications. 

As a not-for-profit employer, Tim recognises the NTAV’s most important tool in achieving its stated vision and goals is its people. By attracting, developing and retaining our staff we position the NTAV to champion Victoria’s diverse heritage for the benefit of current and future generations.  

Justin oversees the management of all NTAV gardens and landscapes across Victoria. He leads the NTAV’s advocacy around natural heritage and environmental values, public open space, significant trees, biodiversity and urban greening. 

Justin joined the NTAV as a qualified gardener and later Head Gardener of Rippon Lea Estate and has held additional roles managing several of our major heritage sites and various conservation projects. 

Justin is passionate about plants, gardens, and the natural environment. His role is focused on protecting and enhancing our green spaces, biodiversity and natural assets in the face of change and promoting the key role these spaces will continue to play in ensuring healthy and vibrant communities into the future. He is also a member of the Victorian committee of Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) 

Anna joined the NTAV in 2018 as the Executive Assistant to the previous Chief Executive Officer, Simon Ambrose. In less than a year, Anna moved into a newly created Senior Management position as the NTAV’s Executive and Strategic Advisor, before being appointed to her current position. 

Anna completed Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Photography (University of Newcastle), and a Masters (Honours) in Arts Administration, Curating and Cultural Leadership (University of New South Wales). Anna has a history of working in both private and public galleries, and arts and cultural institutions. 

Anna sees the strategic direction and governance of the organisation as a key driving factor in achieving the NTAV’s vision and mission. The NTAV’s new Strategic Plan 2023-2028 is underpinned by four key pillars, Cultural Vitality, Economic Health, Inclusion and Sustainability, which align our activity to our key goals, guiding activity to achieve our strategic aims and affirming NTAV as the state’s premier community-based heritage advocacy organisation. 

Sherredan joined the NTAV in 2007 as a volunteer at Rippon Lea at the completion of her studies. After holding various property management roles, in 2018 Sherredan became the Executive Manager, Assets and became responsible for operations at all sites across Victoria. 

Sherredan completed a Bachelor of Arts (La Trobe University), is a graduate of the Melbourne Tourism Leadership Program, and was a participant in the International National Trust Leadership Program.  

Sherredan is dedicated to the responsible stewardship and management of heritage properties. Embracing the NTAV’s ethos of safeguarding our collective past for future generations, Sherredan is deeply invested in ensuring that these invaluable assets remain vibrant hubs of history, education, and community engagement.

Susan Moir holds the position of Executive Manager, Commercial within the NTAV. Joining the organisation in early 2023, Susan guides focus on strategic planning, business development and fostering client relationships, all to contribute to the organisations financial growth and success.   

Susan completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a focus on European Studies, History and German Language. Following extensive travels, she embarked on a dynamic career journey within the events industry, spanning over 12 years. Throughout her tenure, Susan specialised in driving financial viability, fostering commercial growth and cultivating strategic partnerships.      

Susan looks at the NTAV properties and landscapes as a vital part of Victorian history and that the commercialisation of these properties will lead to the ability of the NTAV to educate and provide these places for generations to come to enjoy.    

Brook joined the NTAV Executive in 2022 to lead the Marketing and Communications team.  

Brook has a Bachelor of Business, Tourism (Southern Cross University) and studied a Masters Marketing (Griffith), and has lead teams across destination marketing, media management, arts and culture production, and the tourism sector. This diversity allows Brook to bring a contemporary, audience aligned, eye to the work of the NTAV. With a background in private consulting, varied not-for-profits and tertiary education Brook is equipped, empathetic and understanding of the stakeholder needs in an organisation as multifaceted as the NTAV. 

Brook has made a conscious choice to work in the not-for-profit sector and is driven by the opportunity to be an active participant in the success of an organisation that has both the history of such important work being done and a future filled with exciting possibilities.   

Brook represents the National Trust on roundtables with Visit Victoria – Attractions, and Victorian Tourism Industry Council. 

The Executive Manager of Collections & Cultural Projects, Dr Annette Shiell joined the NTAV in 2020.  

A qualified historian, museum curator and art educator, Annette has extensive managerial, collections and curatorial experience within the heritage and cultural sectors. She curated major exhibitions for the National Centre for Australian Studies, Monash University and the Australian Racing Museum and is the author of numerous articles and publications including ‘Samples to Showbags: The Creation of an Australian Icon’, Bonzer: Australian Comics 1900 – 1990s and Fundraising, Flirtation and Fancywork: Charity Bazaars in Nineteenth Century Australia.  

Annette is passionate about empowering people and communities to create inclusive projects, which will see the NTAV’s collections, places and stories interrogated and enriched for future generations. 

Annette is a Board Member of the History Council of Victoria and represents the National Trust on Deakin University’s Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies Advisory Board.