Elise is an experienced cultural leader with a deep commitment to championing the arts and supporting artists to thrive. With over 15 years’ experience across some of Australia’s most prominent cultural institutions in Senior Management roles at MONA and AGSA, while previously running her own artist focused store and gallery, Council of Objects in the East End of Adelaide. Elise has developed a reputation for driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and creating meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and communities.
Her career spans senior leadership roles across arts, culture, and tourism, where she has overseen business administration, strategy, commercial product development, and creative program delivery. Elise has worked extensively in not-for-profit environments, bringing strong governance, financial management, and stakeholder engagement expertise.
Elise is also the Creative Lead of ILA’s wonderful Immersive Table. At ILA, she brings her wealth of experience to support artists, build vibrant cultural experiences, and ensure audiences and supporters are at the heart of everything the organisation delivers.
With a distinguished career in the state government, as Director of Creative Industries at Arts South Australia, Becc has led transformative policies supporting the arts. A recognised leader, she received the Public Service Medal in 2024 for her contributions to South Australia’s music and creative industries. We are thrilled to have her guiding ILA’s vision into 2025 and beyond.
“After a career in government dedicated to supporting creative enterprise, returning to industry within a business that engages creatives to present sensory, immersive experiences for people to engage with is incredibly exciting. It truly feels like coming home.” – Becc Bates
Robin Wagner began his career in Germany, gaining invaluable experience in Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe before moving to Australia. Here, he further honed his craft in some of the country’s finest Hatted establishments, including Magill Estate and the Lake House in Daylesford.
In 2022, Wagner was recognised as the winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Pacific Final Awards. Proving his philosophy that simplicity is the complexity of an unforgettable experience, Wagner took the prize through a plant-based dish that showcased seasonality and sustainability, and demonstrated that a vegan creation can stand on par with those featuring proteins or luxury ingredients.
Robin Wagner will pursue ILA’s values to push the boundaries of gastronomic and artistic experiences. By exploring the intersection of food and technology through the use of ILA’s immersive LED screens, Robin will continue to innovate and elevate the dining experience. In addition, he will champion Aurora’s mission to serve as an incubator for the next generation of chefs and front-of-house professionals, advancing a model of social sustainability. Robin is deeply committed to fostering a supportive, empowering environment where the team can thrive, learn, and grow.
Robin Wagner brings a wealth of experience and expertise in mentorship and creativity, and says providing an exceptional dining experience for guests with diverse dietary needs will be central to his approach. Expect seasonal, sustainable ingredients, and new dishes that leave an impact long after you leave the table.
Originally hailing from Sydney, James is a hospitality veteran, previously working at various highly acclaimed restaurants around the country including New South Wales Rockpool as a Sommelier. James moved to Adelaide to study and is a longstanding member of Aurora Restaurants hospitality team, quickly making an impact with his expertise and leadership and progressing to his role of Hospitality Manager, overseeing food, beverage, functions and front of house across ILA.
Antoinette is an experienced leader across senior and general management roles in non-profit, public and private sectors, spanning arts, tourism, hospitality, and tertiary education. Her long tenure at the Adelaide Festival Centre allowed her to pursue her passion for the creative arts through major festivals and productions. She later held diverse roles at Zoos SA and the University of Adelaide before returning to immersive arts at ILA.
A committed advocate for diversity and inclusion, she also serves as Deputy Chair of Restless Dance Theatre.
Antoinette is dedicated to supporting teams, fostering collaboration and championing the essential role of the creative arts in society.
With nearly 40 years of experience in sales and close to a decade specialising in events, Kerri brings a rare blend of commercial acumen, creativity and calm confidence to every client interaction. She is known for her exceptional relationship-building skills and her ability to understand what clients truly value — then translate that into unforgettable experiences at ILA.
Whether guiding a corporate partner, shaping a milestone celebration or crafting an immersive moment in Aurora or the Lab, Kerri ensures every event feels seamless, personal and impeccably delivered.
Drawing on formative years across Seoul, Tehran, and Sydney, and professional chapters in Amsterdam and Los Angeles, Melissa brings a global sensibility to her leadership at ILA. She holds a BA in Communications and an MA (Honours) in Film & TV from the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
Her career spans documentary filmmaking, advertising, cultural events, and immersive art. Over the past decade she has focused on large-scale immersive experiences, collaborating with partners including Vivid Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney Opera House, Disney, Dubai Expo, Invictus Games, Biennale of Sydney, and Fondation Cartier. An award-winning filmmaker, Melissa’s works have been supported by SBS-TV, Sundance Institute, and Japan Foundation, with her documentaries broadcast in 11 countries.
As Creative Director at ILA, she brings her cross-disciplinary background to co-create programs that unite creativity, technology, and community, strengthening ILA’s role as a pioneering venue for multi-faceted immersive experiences.
Margo Hill-Smith brings a rich blend of advocacy and arts management to ILA’s Arts Council, with extensive experience in both private and public sector roles in community work and private business.
Margo’s impact on the arts sector is evident in her tenure as Co-Director and Manager of Hill Smith Art Advisory for over 20 years where she has restructured and rebranded the business, emphasising a personalised art advisory service. Her dedication to nurturing relationships with artists, clients, and organisations has significantly shaped the local arts landscape, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to the enrichment of community through the arts.
Alongside her husband and business partner Sam Hill-Smith, Margo has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting arts philanthropy through close relationships spanning several decades. Margo is currently a member of the Hospital Research Foundation Creative Health Art prize Steering Committee and Helpmann Foundation Board and has close relationships with South Australian arts organisations such as Art Gallery of South Australia, ASO, Slingsby, State Theatre Company, MusicaViva, Helpmann Academy, Adelaide Central School of Art and Adelaide College of the Arts.
Peter Hanlon is an Adelaide-based filmmaker, and the founder of both Living Not Beige Films and Mess Productions. In addition to Peter’s five previous films, his latest film: The Angels” Kicking’ Down the Door opened the 2022 Adelaide FIlm Festival and has shown in 100 cinemas across Australia and New Zealand.
Peter is a previous Chair of the South Australian Film Corporation, BankSA Board, RAMS Home Loans and the Fleurieu Community Foundation. He was also a member of the SA Museum Board. In 2022, Peter was appointed as the Strategic Adviser to the SA Premier’s Delivery Unit and as a member of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Board.
Peter retired from banking in 2015 with his last full-time position being Chief Executive, Australian Financial Services at Westpac. Prior to his 25 year banking career, Peter served in the Royal Australian Air Force for 20 years.
Peter was educated at Elizabeth West and Enfield High Schools, University of South Australia, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and was elected valedictorian at Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Nicholas Dunstone co-founded and established ILA (formerly known as Light ADL) alongside his wife Sophie Dunstone in 2020. With a multifaceted career as a business leader, philanthropist, and lawyer, Nicholas brings a wealth of experience to the table. He has spent over 25 years as a corporate restructuring specialist, offering his expertise globally. Currently, he is the Asia head of restructuring for the renowned global law firm, Milbank, based in Singapore.
His professional journey is marked by extensive experience as a board member in various industries, showcasing his versatile leadership and strategic skills. Raised in Adelaide, Nicholas holds a deep-seated passion for supporting the arts and the community in South Australia which is evident through his vision to support and grow ILA. His commitment to philanthropy and community leadership was recognised in 2022 when he and his wife Sophie were honoured with the Creative Partnerships Australia Award for their work through ILA.
Sophie Dunstone is a passionate philanthropist and in 2020 co-founded ILA, a not-for-profit social enterprise that creates opportunities for artists through the support of its events, hospitality and immersive technologies.
As a Clinical Psychologist, throughout the last 20 years Sophie has worked across both the public and private system in Australia, The UK and Hong Kong. Her career is a testament to her interest in looking after people and understanding how to support and help them.
In addition to her contributions to ILA, she is an inaugural donor for the Community Scholarship at Pembroke School and alongside her husband Nick, established a fund to support the education of underprivileged children.
In 2021 Sophie and Nick Dunstone were recognised with the Creative Partnerships Australia Emerging Philanthropy Leadership Award. Following this accolade she was appointed as the Director of the Creative Partnerships Australia Board prior to its merging with Creative Australia. She is dedicated to creating opportunities for people and supporting the growth of artistic communities whilst being a devoted mother to four children.
Nic Mercer is a culture minded leader who places emphasis on people, process and product. Nic joined the team at ILA in 2022, bringing a wealth of knowledge from his management positions in sport through to his most recent endeavour as the General Manager of Sales and Marketing at the Adelaide Convention Bureau. In 2024, Nic transitioned from his position as CEO to Board Member. During his previous tenure Nic promoted the state of South Australia as an ideal business event destination. Showcasing the best of Adelaide and its regions hospitality offerings. Known for his work in unique environments from the Olympics to boardrooms and now an immersive tech, arts and hospitality hub, Nic’s passion for working with non-for-profit sectors remains true as he works to solidify ILA’s position as a global leader in the immersive technology space that creates opportunities for artists.