Co3 Contemporary Dance Australia has announced the appointment of Derry Simpson and Andrew Stephens as Non-Executive Directors, following a vote of the Board on 17 February 2026.
Chair Margrete Helgeby Chaney said the appointments mark an important step in strengthening the governance and strategic capacity of Western Australia’s state contemporary dance company.
Simpson is CEO of Youth Focus and a leading advocate for youth mental health, dedicated to improving wellbeing outcomes for young people across Western Australia. Prior to joining Youth Focus, she held senior executive roles at Telethon Kids Institute and served as Managing Director of the award-winning advertising agency 303.
A longstanding supporter of the arts sector, Simpson has held numerous leadership roles including Director and Chair of Awesome Arts from 2015 to 2021, Director on the Board of FORM from 2008 to 2016, and Patron of the Perth Advertising and Design Club. She currently serves on the board of the Western Australian Council of Social Service, mentors young women across the state and was a 2018 Telstra WA Business Woman of the Year finalist.
Stephens brings more than two decades of experience in property and operations leadership, having worked with major Australian organisations including Bunnings, Subway, Automotive Holdings Group and Colliers. His expertise spans strategic asset acquisition and management, multi-site operational leadership and the delivery of large-scale commercial development projects.
In his current role managing the Bunnings property portfolio across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Stephens oversees long-term strategy, investment and development across an expanding network. His professional background includes governance, financial oversight and stakeholder engagement, alongside a focus on place-making, economic uplift and community connection.
“I am honoured to join the Board of Co3,” Stephens said. “The company plays a vital role in the cultural life of Western Australia, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth and impact.”
“Co3 represents the strength and ambition of contemporary dance in WA,” Simpson said. “I am excited to support an organisation that champions creativity, collaboration and opportunity for artists and audiences alike.”
Helgeby Chaney welcomed the appointments.
“On behalf of the Board, I am so excited to welcome Derry and Andrew to Co3,” she said. “They are bold, thoughtful leaders who bring exceptional capability and a genuine passion for the role Co3 plays in the community. Their arrival strengthens our ambition and signals our drive to confidently expand what is possible for Co3. We are thrilled to welcome them on our journey to inspire and enrich lives through contemporary dance.”
Proudly based in Perth, Boorloo, on the lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people, Co3 is the state contemporary dance company of Western Australia. Under the artistic leadership of Raewyn Hill, the company commissions, creates and tours contemporary dance works that are multidisciplinary and physically distinctive.
Through initiatives such as the Pathways Program and partnerships with WAAPA and the independent dance sector, Co3 continues to invest in the development of Western Australian artists while presenting work locally, nationally and internationally.