Penelope Benton has been NAVA’s Executive Director since early 2021 following her role as General Manager 2015 – 2020. Currently living on Gadigal land, she is also an artist with a collaborative practice and recently became a mum. She has worked previously as the Manager of Arc @ UNSW Art & Design, General Manager of the College of Fine Arts Students’ Association and was Co-Artistic Director of Art Month Sydney 2013. Penelope was a co-Director at Firstdraft 2007 – 2008 and a Co-Founder/Director of The Red Rattler, an artist and activist run performance space in Sydney’s inner west 2008 – 2013.

She has a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) from the University of Newcastle, Masters in Art Administration from UNSW, Graduate Diploma in Arts Management from UTS, and completed a Masters of Fine Arts at UNSW in 2017.