ABOUT | Embraced, socially driven arts projects

About us

These eye-opening interactions have not only enhanced my musical and social skills, but I’ve also learnt things from older residents’ experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

18-year-old Musician Jax Giles-Webb (VIC)

Purpose

Embraced creates inclusive, thriving communities by connecting generations through the transformative power of arts, culture, and creativity. By uniting people to create art, we celebrate intergenerational bonds, connect communities and change perceptions, embracing differences, fostering belonging, and nurturing wellbeing — building a foundation for lasting social change.

Mission
Connecting generations
through art

Vision

To inspire, unite, and connect

communities through arts

and culture, celebrating

intergenerational bonds and

promoting wellbeing.

Board

Mai brings over two decades of expertise in business systems, operations, and strategic consulting to the Embraced board.

Drawing from a career spanning corporate, retail, ecommerce, for-purpose, not-for-profit, and social enterprise sectors, Mai supports initiatives that balance commercial success with positive societal impact.

Settling in Australia as a refugee and grounded in strong intergenerational family values, she remains deeply passionate about strengthening community and social equity.

Mai holds a degree in Business Systems from Monash University and has further refined her leadership approach through the Mastery of Business & Empathy course with Small Giants Academy.

Her breadth of experience has shaped her commitment to creating sustainable and inclusive business practices that drive meaningful change.

Katherine is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian and New Zealand School of Government Executive Fellows Program with a sound understanding of contemporary governance issues and effective risk management practices.

She brings extensive experience in crisis and emergency management, stakeholder collaboration, strategy and public sector governance.

With her science background, she is comfortable considering technical and complex issues and has a strong analytical approach complemented by strong business and political acumen.

She has over 20 years’ experience leading regulatory systems including animal welfare, food safety, biosecurity and agricultural chemical use.

Katherine has a demonstrated ability to lead innovation, actively driving reforms to implement these changes and a particular interest in technology strategies and digital modernisation.

Katherine’s experiences working across Australia, New Zealand and internationally have expanded her perspective. Since moving to Melbourne Katherine has enthusiastically embraced the multitude of arts experiences Melbourne offers.

Justine Costigan is a certified strategic communications management professional with experience in all aspects of publishing and media and content strategy and execution.

She has edited more than a dozen magazines and books including publications for Museums Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, Swinburne University, University of Melbourne, Jetstar and RACV.

She is a regular contributor to Australian and international publications writing about arts and culture, travel, architecture, and urban design and is the co-host of the podcast Light, Cities + Architecture.

Margaret has served Embraced since 2017. Over her long life, Margaret has developed skills & compassion for humanity via teaching, small business management & her interest & practice in the Arts.

Reducing injustice & inequality fuels Margaret’s work on the Board. Margaret’s passion for the Arts & its unique way of connecting people, in particular across the generations, supports this value central to Embraced.

Margaret is responsible, reliable, a good listener, a team player & here for the long haul. Margaret has joined the local U3A, taking up TaiChi, dancing, studying Homer’s Odyssey & Paul Kelly’s Love is Strong as Death. She is renovating her townhouse & working with a community group revegetating a stream verge, to improve air, soil & stream quality to encourage native flora & fauna, as well as humans to thrive.

President
Mai Lan Nguyen

Vice President
Katherine Clift

Treasurer
Justine Costigan

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

About us

Purpose

Mission
Connecting generations
through art

Board

President
Mai Lan Nguyen

Vice President
Katherine Clift

Treasurer
Justine Costigan

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

Team

Creative Director
Rose Connors Dance

Download our
Strategic Plan

Bookkeeper
Jaimie Miao

About us

Purpose

Mission Connecting generations through art

Board

President Mai Lan Nguyen

Vice President Katherine Clift

Treasurer Justine Costigan

Secretary Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member Margaret Connors

Secretary Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member Margaret Connors

Team

Creative Director Rose Connors Dance

Download our Strategic Plan

Bookkeeper Jaimie Miao

Mission
Connecting generations
through art

President
Mai Lan Nguyen

Vice President
Katherine Clift

Treasurer
Justine Costigan

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

Secretary
Arantza Garcia-Ferrand

General Member
Margaret Connors

Creative Director
Rose Connors Dance

Download our
Strategic Plan

Bookkeeper
Jaimie Miao