DADAA welcomes three new team members
DADAA is excited to welcome Perun Bonser, Aaron Seymour, and Heidi Phillips to our team.
These appointments expand our capacity to deliver artistic outcomes for Western Australian artists with disability, strengthen our commitment to First Nations leadership, and enhance the quality of support we provide to our clients and communities.
As DADAA’s inaugural First Nations Program Manager, Perun’s leadership role follows the development of our new Reconciliation Action Plan, which set a clear ambition to ensure Aboriginal voices are integral to the design, development, and delivery of all future arts programs and projects.
As Gallery Manager, Aaron will lead the program through an exciting shift to a commissioning model, while also returning to DADAA’s foundations in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of artists with lived experience of disability and mental health issues.
Joining our Midland team as Client Services Administrator, Heidi will provide day-to-day administrative support to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of DADAA’s client services team.
Together, Aaron, Perun, and Heidi bring diverse experiences and perspectives that will support us to deliver on DADAA’s mission: Art for Social Change.
Perun Bonser
About Perun Bonser
Perun is a Ngarluma filmmaker with a background in contemporary dance. He has written and directed numerous short films, including The Shore, Blight (ABC), Fighter, and Shadows of Displacement (NITV), and contributed to the anthology Dark Place. His work has screened at CinefestOz, Hot Docs, imagineNATIVE, St Tropez, SFF, and MIFF.
His recent credits include directing Star Dreaming for Prospero Productions, writing for Noongar Footy Magic, and co-writing/directing Our Law (NITV/Netflix). In 2022, he was selected as AIDC’s inaugural Indigenous Documentary Placement recipient at the ABC.
Perun also previously served as First Nations Executive at Screenwest, where he managed project and practitioner programs and initiatives to support First Nations filmmakers across Western Australia. He is passionate about telling authentic stories that challenge audiences and empower First Nations communities.
Aaron Seymour
About Aaron Seymour
Aaron is a graduate of Curtin University and Edith Cowan University. He has long been active in the emerging arts scene, co-founding The Instrument, a creative hub for grassroots Hip Hop artists, and producing MD Limited Editions, a zine series on emerging artists.
As an artist, Aaron has exhibited and performed widely, including at Carriageworks, PICA, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Gallery Central, and internationally in New York. He also spent nearly a decade in Melbourne working in the music festival circuit as a DJ, event manager, and artist manager. Since returning to WA, Aaron has revitalised his own creative practice, exploring his Burmese heritage through painting, jewellery, and sculpture.
Heidi Phillips
About Heidi Phillips
Heidi brings extensive experience across administration, customer service, and community support, with a strong commitment to working alongside people with disability. She has worked as an independent disability support worker and in community care roles, providing both practical and emotional support to clients.
She also has a background in office management, sales, and web administration, and holds a Certificate IV in Human Resources, alongside holding qualifications in Business and Individual Support. Heidi’s blend of professional skills, warmth, and organisational ability make her a valuable addition to the Client Services team.
