Overload as a whole is a snapshot of the diversity in Australian poetics; thus the creative team that curates and runs it is made up of a mix of writers of all ages, cultures and poetic preferences.
Managing Director James Waller has been at the Overload helm since 2008. Under his direction the festival has developed significant inter-cultural platforms with the NGV, Fed Square and overseas partners via skype. He is an artist and poet and thus the driving force behind Overload's inter-arts programs.
Luis Gonzalez Serrano, Artistic Director, has been involved in Overload from its beginnings as convener of an RMIT Professional Writing and Editing reading. He is a journalist and poet who has been a feature reader in every regular poetry night in Melbourne. He was a founder of much-respected journal Salt-lick New Poetry, which he co-edited until the 2005. That same year he was recipient of the 2005 NSW Poets Union Fellowship for Young Writers, which resulted in the publication of his first book, Cities with Moveable Parts.
Ashley Molese, Festival Administrator, from the U.S.A. comes to Overload after a stint of door managing for the 2009 Overload Poetry Festival. We were so impressed we just had to keep her! Currently, she is undertaking a Masters degree in Arts Management at RMIT and working on an upcoming showcase at the RMIT Public Artspace in October 2010.
Sjaak de Jong, Overload's Experimental Programmer & Board Member, is a well-regarded performer in the Melbourne live poetry scene for his work with musical improvisation and sound poetry. He has curated and organised a great number of events that have brought together musicians, poets and performance artists with the intention of showcasing the more experimental side of poetry.
Jon Garrett , President of Overload, is a poet and convener of one of the longest-running regular readings in Melbourne: The Spinning Room, a concept he brought along when he migrated to Australia from England. In fact, the original Spinning Room still exists in London fourteen years after Jon created it. His connections with poets from Melbourne, Victoria and overseas make him the most suited person for the job of liaison with the established poetry readings in the city.
Tim Hamilton is Overload's Vice-President and Secretary, as well as being a seasoned poet and performer and an I.T. professional with BigPond. His skills make him an ideal web-master for Overload. Tim is instrumental in bringing the festival to the world on-line.
Denice Smart, Overload Treasurer, has been with the festival since the beginning (actually, since before the beginning). As the mother of the co-founder of the festival (Steve), Denice has found herself the adopted mother of an entire community. Denice keeps the spirit alive in the Overload Board!
Jack Walden and Maryann Separovic manage thecword publicity company which currently manages Moving Galleries amongst other projects. Jack and Maryann are pivotal in letting Melbourne know that Overload is here!
Michelle Ferreira is an award winning photographer and graphic designer. Michelle has clothed Overload since 2008 with striking, colourful and playful program designs. Her latest installment is the new Overload logo which the team absolutely love! Michelle is currently based in Malaysia.
