Governance and Board

Nicholas Sweeney

CHAIRMAN

Nicholas Sweeney is a Division Director at Macquarie Bank with a focus on structured and acquisition finance to mid-market Australian Corporates. Nicholas’ professional career spans 18 years across various financial services and marketing roles. 

Nicholas has worked with Poetry in Action over the last 5 years as a non-executive director and as of February 2020 has now taken on the role as PIA Board Chairman. He is proud to be a part of an organisation that is committed to providing a creative opportunity for students on a global scale to express themselves and witness amazing Australian drama. Nicholas is also co-founder of a charitable organisation Too Many Pricks which focuses living an active and healthy lifestyle while raising funding and awareness for research in to Type 1 diabetes.  

Matthew Abbott

BOARD MEMBER

Matthew Abbott joined Poetry In Action as a board director in June 2021. He is a seasoned public affairs practitioner and has worked for large organisations including global buy now pay later fintech Zip Co, where he advised the company’s founders on global media issues, public policy and stakeholder relations; advised the Australian corporate watchdog ASIC through the Banking Royal Commission, been an adviser to Westfield founder Sir Frank Lowy and press secretary to Hon Joe Hockey during the Howard Government. Matthew was a financial journalist in London and started his career as a reporter on The Australian Financial Review. He also lectures masters students at Sydney University on political campaigning and stakeholder relations. Matthew has a commerce degree from the University of NSW and a Masters of Public Affairs from Sydney University.

Camilla Rountree

BOARD MEMBER

Camilla has worked in theatre, film and television as an actor and costume designer. From 1994 to 1999 she was Producer of Foundation Events and Associate Producer for Sydney Theatre Company. She has produced large events including the opening of Luna Park Sydney, was Associate Producer for international touring productions, and wrote and toured her own work to Edinburgh Festival and Germany. From 2003 she was the Producer for Riverside Theatres where she programmed and developed, produced and toured productions of new work. In 2016 for NAISDA Dance College she produced the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Camilla is a member of AWG.

Chris Fabiansson

BOARD MEMBER

Chris Fabiansson is a partner in the Real Estate group of the global law firm Dentons, based in Sydney and specialising in commercial and residential property development.  Since joining Dentons in 2002 Chris has enjoyed providing pro bono legal services to a number of community and arts organisations and has a particular passion for music and theatre. Chris joined the board of Poetry in Action in August 2023.

daynah Hamilton

BOARD ADVISOR

Daynah is a sales and marketing guru with an obvious passion and love for the industry. She has a vast network of influential contacts in media and PR and her knowledge of digital marketing has resulted in published works and guest speaking opportunities at numerous events and conferences. 

A director of four successful Australian companies and a joint venture partner in two International companies, Daynah’s skills for taking businesses to new heights has gained her national recognition in the market. 

Her exceptional marketing skills and ability to transform businesses sales practices has seen multiple Australian businesses grow to be the market leaders in their industry. 

One of these companies is her own business, DUK Agency. DUK is a digital marketing agency that Daynah started in 2007 and has built over the years to become one of the top digital agencies in Sydney.  

BRYCE YOUNGMAN

CO-FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Drawing upon his extensive industry experience and buoyed by a coffee addiction, Bryce has worked in every capacity at PIA as writer, actor, director, salesman and much more – in doing so energetically steering PIA’s growth from its very first production to its status today as one of Australia’s foremost and most extensively touring theatre companies for young people.