Board Member Q&A with Siobhán McGeown
At Monkey Baa, our Board plays a vital role in guiding and supporting our mission to empower young people through transformative theatre experiences. Behind the scenes, these dedicated individuals bring a wealth of expertise and deep commitment to ensuring that we continue to create meaningful, accessible, and engaging theatre for young audiences across Australia.
Our deputy chair, Siobhán McGeown is a proud Yuin woman and currently works as the Marketing Manager of Screen at the ABC. In her role she manages and develops multiplatform marketing campaigns and brand strategy including ABC iView and ABC TV. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), awarded with distinction from University of Technology (UTS) and recently won B&T’s 30 under 30 award for Marketing.
Siobhán has been on the board at Monkey Baa since 2023, and today we are sharing her motivations and commitment to celebrate the invaluable contributions she makes to our organisation and our mission.
What inspired you to join Monkey Baa’s Board, and how does its mission resonate with your personal values?
I am attracted to organisations that drive change and impact, and Monkey Baa is doing this through diverse and creative storytelling for young Australians.
What skills and experience do you bring to your role?
For many years, I have been working to find new and diverse audiences and creating premium experiences. I have a love and appreciation for Australian children’s content, having worked across iconic brands like ABC Kids, Bluey and Little Lunch.
I grew up in Western Sydney to a single Mum and I have experienced the barriers that impact access to theatre, particularly in lower socio-economic areas. Monkey Baa aims to break down these barriers, providing children with creative experiences that enables equitable access to the benefits of the arts for all young people regardless of their circumstances, and I’m an advocate for the importance of this work.
Can you share a memorable moment during your time as Deputy Chair that highlights Monkey Baa’s impact on young people or communities?
My most memorable moment was taking my 7-year-old niece to to see Possum Magic and Edward the Emu at iconic venues in New South Wales like Sydney Coliseum and Sydney Opera House. She hadn’t experienced anything like this, and Monkey Baa enabled her first foray into life-changing arts experiences. After Possum Magic, she said “this was the best day ever!”
What excites you most about Monkey Baa’s future projects, and how do you see them inspiring young audiences?
I am looking forward to seeing Josephine Wants to Dance in January at the Sydney Opera House. I’m also really excited for Detention coming to theatres later in the year. I had the pleasure of seeing of the work in development, and how it speaks to the diverse stories that reflect our Australian culture and society. These stories need to be told and heard. From a board perspective, I’m thrilled to be working with an incredible group of Director, and our brilliant chair Judith McLean who has hit the ground running!
As Deputy Chair, what are your priorities in supporting Monkey Baa’s growth and commitment to equity and creativity?
A big priority for me next year is working with the company and board to grow donor donations and building strategies to ensure that we are creating accessible theatre for younger Australians – particularly those who my experience barriers to access.
