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

Noé Harsel has worked for over 15 years in the arts and culture space, currently managing the marketing, communications and development at the Jewish Museum of Australia. She was Co-Director of Melbourne Jewish Book Week and has lectured in Australian history and cultural studies at RMIT University and the University of Melbourne. Having published a number of articles and short stories, she is now working on her first fiction manuscript.

Yasmin Naghavi

Deputy Chair

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

Yasmin is a partner 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 and was the director of a number of technology companies. He has a Master of Business Administration degree 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 had a number of short stories and a poem published and 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.

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).

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

Sharon Mullins

Board Member

Sharon began her career as an editor and now has more than 25 years’ experience across book 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. Her current writing projects include an historical novel and a non-fiction history.

Justine Sless

Board Member

Justine Sless is a writer, comedian and humour academic and has an MA by research in creative writing. She has had short stories published in anthologies and academic journals, has written for 'Jewish Women of Words' and 'Funny Women' and has written numerous one women shows and comedy for a vast range of clients. Justine is co host of 'Sless to Harsel', an ITVG show with an irreverent take on books and writing. Find her online at justinesless.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.