Research Team profiles
Bridget Jones
Director, Research and Strategic Analysis
Role
Bridget is responsible for developing and implementing the Council’s research and knowledge program. She leads the research team to deliver insights about the arts to the Council, industry leaders, artists and policy makers through research, evaluation and analysis. A key part of her role is to develop productive relationships with key government, arts sector and research stakeholders in Australia and internationally.
Background
Bridget has worked as a corporate planner, a strategic planner, and a consultant in the telecommunications, transport and government sectors. She was born in Christchurch and has a Master of Arts from the University of Auckland. She enjoys creative writing, visiting galleries and listening to all kinds of music.
Areas of interest and/or expertise
Artist surveys, audience research, participation studies, social media analysis, user satisfaction surveys, evaluation research
Current and recently completed projects
- Data collection strategy
- Library rejuvenation
- Strategic planning research
- Artist incomes research
- Emerging artists longitudinal study
- More than bums on seats - Australian Participation in the Arts
Contact: tel. (02) 9215 9372 or email
Marija Vojdanoska
Research and Analysis Adviser
Role
As research and analysis adviser, Marija’s main role is to support the Research team in implementing the Council’s research program. With a focus on quantitative research, she is involved in a number of major projects, including ArtFacts, with an aim to provide accessible analysis and interpretation of research.
Background
Marija previously worked as a market research consultant at Sweeney Research, where she specialised in quantitative research. With a keen interest in people and society, she completed a Master of Psychology (Organisational) at UNSW, and published an article based on her Master’s thesis in Applied Cognitive Psychology. She enjoys reading, arts and craft and most things science related.
Areas of interest and/or expertise
Long term tracking research, client satisfaction research, understanding perceptions of and attitudes towards the arts, audience engagement including online engagement and social media.
Current and recently completed projects
- Art Facts
- Longitudinal study of young and emerging artists
Contact: tel. (02) 9215 9182 or email
Caitlin Vaughan
Research and Evaluations Adviser
Role
Caitlin is involved with the Australia Council’s ARC Linkage partnerships, collaborating across Council to support program evaluation, working on discrete research projects into the arts sector, and developing strategies to communicate research outcomes.
Background
Caitlin joined the Australia Council after a long stint as a senior manager at Information and Cultural Exchange and several years researching culture the Centre for Cultural Research at the University of Western Sydney. Caitlin has qualifications in political economy and community cultural development, and recently completed postgraduate studies at the UNSW Centre for Social Impact. In an earlier life Caitlin worked as a public servant, a union organiser, and community worker, and also spent a fair amount of time in different places scrubbing dishes and pouring beers, and perfecting the art of good coffee before there was a cappuccino machine in every store. Music training in her youth shaped her outlook on life, and her interests are geeky –she longs for the day when the classics are cool again and there’s no blind spot for Byzantium.
Areas of interest and/or expertise
Social impact and evaluation, cultural research and qualitative methods, creative disruption. Caitlin has a particular interest the challenges of interpreting, demonstrating and communicating the impact and value of the arts and culture.
Current and recently completed projects
- ARC Linkage partnerships
- Visual Arts qualitative research
- Research into artist payment and careers
- Program evaluations across Council