Our Committee

Writers Victoria has a hard-working voluntary Committee of Management which oversees the strategic and administrative operations of the organisation.

Noè Harsel

Chair

Noè Harsel has over 15 years’ experience as a communications and development professional and now runs a consulting business. She has lectured in Australian history and cultural studies at RMIT and University of Melbourne and was Co-Director of Melbourne Jewish Book Week. Having published several articles and short stories, she is now working on her first fiction manuscript. Noè co-hosts Sless to Harsel, an irreverent twice-weekly show about writing.

Yasmin Naghavi

Deputy Chair

Black and white picture of a woman with curly hair and glasses smiling to the camera

Yasmin is a senior lawyer at Media Arts Lawyers practising in creative industries law. There she represents world-class graphic and motion design studios, authors, tv/radio talent, journalists, agencies, illustrators, playwrights and screenwriters, streaming services, game makers, visual artists, managers, format and content creators, influencers, photographers, and app developers. Holding both a Juris Doctor (hons) and an MBA, Yasmin combines experience with expertise, industry insight, and a passion for the creative sector.

Peter Hill

Secretary

Peter Hill is a journalist and author, a major shareholder in a successful Australian software company, and was the director of a number of technology companies. He has an MBA and a Certificate of Professional Writing and Editing. Peter writes for a number of motoring magazines and has a motoring blog. His latest book is 'The Fred Opert Story' (Veloce, UK). He has compiled and edited five IT related books including 'Practical Software Project Estimation' (McGraw-Hill).

Victor Sekulov

Treasurer

Victor is a Finance Manager with over thirty years experience both in the corporate private and the public sectors, including Not-For-Profit and health benevolent organisations. Victor has sat as a member of a number of committees in his role as Finance Manager/Financial Controller. These have included Audit Committees for major public hospitals; Policy Steering Committees, Evaluation of Service and Tender Committees. Victor is the convener of the Finance Subcommittee. Joined in 2014.

Mel Costello

Board Member

Mel is an experienced People & Culture leader who has worked with professional services firms on key people projects and issues: coaching and developing senior leaders and teams, developing and evolving organisational culture, building diverse and inclusive teams, and championing and enabling flexible working. In 2020 she completed her placement with the Writers Victoria Board as part of The Observership Program, including Board governance and readiness training with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Sharon Mullins

Board Member

Sharon is an editor by trade with more than 25 years’ experience across publishing and corporate communications. She is the Communications Manager at State Library Victoria, where she is currently leading the development of a whole-of-organisation internal communications strategy. The unfinished manuscript of her first novel is languishing in a drawer, feeling entirely neglected.

Justine Sless

Board Member

Alex Hammond

Board Member

Alex Hammond has over 20 years’ experience as digital communication and marketing specialist. He is currently the Assistant Director of Digital Engagement at RMIT University, where he manages the university’s online experiences to support its strategic and recruitment objectives. He is the author of The Paris Collaborator (2021, Echo), The Unbroken Line (2015, Penguin) and Blood Witness (2013, Penguin, shortlisted Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime Novel). Find out more at https://www.alexhammondauthor.com

Paul Sutherland

Board Member

Paul is a former journalist and political media adviser and now advises professional services firms on their media strategies. He has more than 10 years’ experience in media and public relations in Australia and overseas. Paul has a Bachelor of Journalism from Queensland University of Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Crisis Communications from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in London and is studying RMIT’s Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing.