Debra Jefferies

The arts and creative industries are a major part of Debra’s life. She is an experienced arts manager and consultant who has worked in government and non-government sectors for 40 years. She joined Arts Victoria in 1993, held senior management roles there and later at Creative Victoria before she retired from the Victorian Public Service in late 2021. Her drive to expand support through government policies and programs for the Victorian contemporary arts sector saw her lead the co-design and implementation of new investment programs for independent artists, producers and small to medium companies and a range of initiatives directed at regional and international development. She has been an advocate for the Victorian arts sector at major festivals and events in many parts of Australia and the world. Prior to joining Arts Victoria Debra managed the Meryl Tankard Dance Theatre Company for several years and later worked with choreographer Sue Healey at Vis-a-Vis Dance Canberra. Debra grew up in Melbourne’s southern beachside suburbs and moved to London in the late 1970’s where she worked in theatre administration for five years. She is a graduate of Monash University where she balanced a scholarly interest in literature with an enthusiasm for Student Theatre. She later studied Arts Management at the University of South Australia