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Dean Worthington by Jack McTaggart of Red Dirt Productions  (reddirtproductions.com.au)

Director —

Dean Worthington

Dean is committed to sharing knowledge, stories and experiences to make the world more loving, accepting and inspired. Dean's approach of building strong communities, teams and networks through mutual respect, education and storytelling has formed the basis of his life and career. Coming from a community-orientated family Dean's attitude has always been to contribute where he can and to always have a positive impact on the world.    

 

A strong business and marketing focus informs the work that Dean has always done. Dean knows that individuals and organisations are only able to operate, exist and create when they have the means and capacity to do so and especially believes that those that are well resourced have the greatest chance of success (whatever that is).

 

The approach that Dean has always employed is to find and leverage honest, sustainable, agile and diverse income streams by using genuine and impactful marketing approaches.  â€‹

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With over 10 years’ experience in the arts, culture and entertainment industry Dean has worked in a range of roles and organisations within Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and regional Victoria. With a Masters of Marketing with Distinction from RMIT University, Dean pairs his industry experience with data, research and academia for a range of clients and organisations.

 

Dean develops a deep understanding of his clients business objectives and needs to build effective and manageable results-drive campaigns.

 

Dean has a finely tuned ability to execute integrated campaigns in the best, most strategic, cost-effective means possible to deliver results for his clients.

Photo by Jack McTaggart of Red Dirt Productions  (reddirtproductions.com.au)

Professional Experience

CEO and Creative Director — Arts Mildura (2021—present)

Communications Consultant — PHOTO Australia (2020 & 2021)

Head of Marketing and Business Development — Adelaide Fringe (2019)

Marketing and Business Development Director — Melbourne International Jazz Festival (2017—2019)

Marketing Project Manager — 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (2016)

Business Development Executive — Melbourne Fashion Festival (2013—2015)

 

Career Highlights

Arts Mildura 

Designed and launched new Mallee wide multi-arts festival SemiArid 

Tripled the organisations funding in 1 year (included a $240,000 increase in multi-year funding over 4 years)

Opened Arts Mildura Hub a multi-purpose arts and creativity hub 

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PHOTO Australia

  • Worked with the Artistic Director, Executive Director and Photo Australia Board to navigate through the global COVID-19 pandemic which included the postponement communications and subsequent audience engagement strategies including PHOTO LIVE.

 

Adelaide Fringe

  • Lead a team to introduce a new Fringe Fanatic Membership tier

  • Secured eight news partners within the first five months of tenure

  • Negotiated increased partnership investments for seven existing partners

  • Secured a grant from James and Diana Ramsay Foundation to attend the 2019 Culture Business conference

  • Lead an interstate marketing and tourism strategy with Fringe Ambassadors Marcia Hines, Amanda Palmer and Fez Fananana

  • Ticket sales within the first 10 days since campaign launch were ~30% higher than any previous years

 

Melbourne International Jazz Festival

  • Devised and lead a team to implement the gender equality and diversity initiative Tomorrow is My Turn Womens Jazz Leadership Program (now Take Note) in addition to raising $90k+ new funding, government grants and donations for the program

  • Implemented centralised ticketing platform across all MIJF events allowing audiences to purchase tickets to multiple events in the one transaction for the 2018 Festival

  • Lead marketing campaigns that exceeded box office targets of 2017, 2018 and 2019 Festivals

 

4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art

  • Managed organisational brand redevelopment and website upgrade

 

Melbourne Fashion Festival

  • Assisted in securing Principal Partner Virgin Australia in 2014

  • Lead role in re-signing Virgin Australia for an additional 3 years in 2015

  • Lead role in securing Major Partnership with Priceline Pharmacy in 2015

  • Secured Samsung as Technology Partner in 2014

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