2 September 2025
The Elevate Mentorship program is one of Helpmann Academy’s longest-running initiatives, offering mentoring and specialist professional development to emerging creatives. In 2025, six emerging artists have been awarded tailored mentorships, each valued at up to $3,000.
Proudly supported by a circle of generous philanthropic patrons and the Government of South Australia through CreateSA, the program connects graduates with established professionals for an artist-led mentorship designed to foster career growth and development.
Congratulations to the following recipients of the Helpmann Academy Elevate Mentorship 2025!
BRIDGET MCCULLOUGH
Partner Institution: University of Adelaide
Mentored by: Robert Ashworth
Bridget McCullough is a classical violist who has just completed her Bachelor of Music Honours (Advanced) at the Elder Conservatorium of Music under the tutelage of Keith Crellin and Stephen King. Bridget was a participant of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra 2024 Trainee program and is now a casual musician. She is passionate about chamber music and has received the Elder Conservatorium Recording Fund with Serendipity Trio and regularly performs with the Torrens String Quartet. Bridget enjoys performing solo recitals and has performed for a variety of lunchtime concert series’ including Recitals Australia, Baroque Hall and Flinders Street. Bridget is principal viola in the Elder Conservatorium Baroque Ensemble and in 2023 attended the Young Mannheim Symphonists National Academy. In 2023 and 2024, she attended the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp and in 2023 she was principal viola in the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra and the Elder Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra. In 2022 and 2023, Bridget was the recipient of the Varley Scholarship and Exhibition. When Bridget is not performing, she enjoys teaching music at Nazareth Catholic College.
“I am incredibly grateful for this mentorship opportunity from Helpmann. I am looking forward to taking onboard feedback to improve my viola playing and support my preparation for professional orchestral auditions.”
Bridget McCullough, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @bridgetmccullough_
About the Mentor
Robert Ashworth is Principal viola for the Auckland Philharmonia. He has appeared as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia on numerous occasions, performing Harold in Italy, Anthony Ritchie’s viola concerto no. 1, world premiere of Ross Harris’s Aria as well as performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. He has also performed as soloist with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra. With the Jade String Quartet he has toured throughout New Zealand with Arts on Tour, and as a CMNZ regional artist. He has recorded for Atoll and Rattle labels as well as many performances recorded for Radio New Zealand. Robert has been guest-principal viola for the Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, as well as assistant-principal for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the violist for the Jade String Quartet in Auckland, and also plays with the Australian World Orchestra. In 2022, Robert was awarded a NZ music award for Best Classical Artist for his album Moonstone with collaborative pianist Sarah Watkins, and is a twice recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts Award for Emerging Artists. He has performed with various groups at international chamber music festivals in Europe, North America, and Japan. He has had the honour to study with violists Thomas Riebl and Veronika Hagen at the Universitaet Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and with Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Robert plays a Canadian “cut-away” viola made in 1995 by John Newton.
CAMERON LONGSHAW
Partner Institution: University of South Australia
Mentored by: Alex Grant
Cameron is an Adelaide/Tarntanya-based artist who works across new and different mediums. Through kinetic work and digital media his practice observes and responds to the ways technologies impact people and society.
“This mentorship under Alex will give me technical skills relevant to my practice that would be very difficult to acquire on my own. I can take these new skills and use them to create work with completely new materials and through unusual processes.”
Cameron Longshaw, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @cameroon_long
About the Mentor
Alex Grant co-founded Myriota, which provides global low-cost, low-power satellite Internet of Things connectivity. He was also a co-founder of Cohda Wireless, specializing in communication solutions that enable vehicles, infrastructure, and vulnerable road users to communicate in real time for enhanced positioning, collision avoidance, and traffic efficiency. Both of these companies stemmed from research conducted while he was Professor of Information Theory at the University of South Australia. Alex is currently Managing Director of boutique engineering consultancy Improbability Engineering, and Senior FPGA Engineer at Inovor Technologies, which designs, manufactures, integrates, tests, and operates sovereign small satellite platforms and mission systems.
FRANCA LAFOSSE
Partner Institution: Flinders University
Mentored by: Emily Steel
Franca Lafosse is an Argentinian-Australian actress who graduated from Flinders University Drama Centre with First Class Honours in 2023. Franca works across film, theatre and motion-capture, both as a performer and creative. She made her professional stage debut this year in State Theatre Company of South Australia’s new play Housework, written by Emily Steel. Following her debut, she completed professional development training across Madrid, Barcelona and Buenos Aires, and was also selected as a resident for the ASSITEJ New Voices Fellowship program, attending the 2025 international gathering in Marseille, France. In 2024, Franca co-produced and starred in the short film Chokeberries, shortlisted for the Sydney Underground Film Festival, Inner West Film Festival and Revelation International Film Festival.
“The opportunity to adapt a solo theatre piece with the guidance of established playwrights working in both Australia and Argentina is invaluable.. This project is a new venture into the world of translation, a merging of languages and cultural identities, and I feel very lucky to be developing it alongside mentors who I deeply respect and admire.”
Franca Lafosse, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @francalafosse
About the Mentor
Emily Steel is an award-winning playwright, experienced dramaturg and emerging screenwriter. Her stage plays include HOUSEWORK, recently produced by State Theatre Company South Australia, the AWGIE Award-winning EUPHORIA, produced by STCSA and Country Arts SA, THE GARDEN and HOW NOT TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA for Theatre Republic, and 19 WEEKS, which won the Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award, Best Theatre Award at the Adelaide Fringe and Audio AWGIE for her adaptation for BBC Radio 4. As a dramaturg, Emily has supported many emerging and mid-career playwrights in the development of new work. She has mentored young and emerging writers and taughT script writing at Flinders University, University of Adelaide and AC Arts. She was selected for the 2024 SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator and worked with JOY Studios (fka KOJO Originals) as their Development Associate. She came up with the original concept and was a core writer for the Ruby Award-winning DECAMERON 2.0, produced by STCSA and ActNow Theatre, which put 100 new monologues on YouTube. She directed and produced a filmed version of 19 WEEKS, and has recently received Quicksilver funding to write and direct her short film ANANAB ANANAB. Emily is the new Artistic Director of Theatre Republic.
LOÈVA DUNLEVY
Partner Institution: University of South Australia
Mentored by: Basil Malek
Loéva Dunlevy is a multidisciplinary artist based in Adelaide, working across painting, illustration, animation, and filmmaking. Her practice centres on storytelling—exploring mystery, whimsy, and emotional depth through visual narrative. She holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Art from UniSA and an International Baccalaureate diploma, with further studies at the Adelaide Central School of Art, Brera Academy (Milan), and Gobelins (France), where she began developing her current film concept. She works as a freelance illustrator, 2D animator, and video editor, and has exhibited in SALA and RSASA shows. She aims to complete her full animatic with structured mentorship.
“Being supported by Helpmann Academy’s ‘Elevate Mentorship Program’ to pursue my personal project is an incredible opportunity. I feel so excited to start bringing to life an idea I’ve been carrying with me for years, with the guidance of a mentor and industry professional I deeply admire and have loved working with in the past. I feel this unique experience will allow me to push my creative practice to its full potential, grow through structured support, and gain deeper insight into how I can pursue my career goals as a passionate artist and storyteller.”
Loéva Dunlevy, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @loeva_art
YouTube: Loeva Art
About the Mentor
Basil Malek is a versatile artist with expertise in storyboarding, concept art, animation, and directing. He also serves as a storyboard and animation tutor. Basil began his academic journey at Supinfocom, India in 2014, concluding his studies at Gobelins, Paris in 2018. There, he co-directed his graduation film, “The Tree, ” with Han Yang. He launched his professional career as a 2D character animator at Cartoon Saloon, contributing to acclaimed features like WolfWalkers and My Father’s Dragon, and animating on Star Wars Visions 2: Screecher’s Reach. Following his time at Cartoon Saloon, Basil also animated on Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds. Later, Basil joined Little Moon Animation as a Storyboard and Concept Artist. He advanced to a trainee director for Fia’s Fairies and then took on his first role as Animation Director for Fia’s Fairies Season 2. Currently, Basil continues his work with Little Moon Animation and tutors students in storyboarding and 2D animation summer programs at his alma mater, Gobelins L’école de L’Image.
Instagram: @basil_malek
LinkedIn: Basil MALEK
TERESA DI FAVA
Partner Institute: University of Adelaide
Mentored by: Leena Regan
Teresa is a 23-year-old pop artist based in Tarntanya (Adelaide). Her latest 2025 single Let’s Commit Arson was dubbed “a pocket rocket [of] Australian power pop” (Anika Luna, triple j) and named one of Rolling Stone AU’s “Best Australian Songs of the Week.” Her songwriting explores the highs and lows of her twenties – first through a conceptual, crime-themed music project, and now through a more introspective, emotionally driven lens. Her upcoming 2025 East Coast Tour marks a new chapter: a stripped-back, intimate set that reimagines her latest repertoire and offers audiences a closer look at her evolving artistic voice.
“I’m over the moon to be undertaking a 12-week mentorship program with Leena Regan – an incredibly talented and respected pillar of the Adelaide music scene. Having Helpmann’s support in this mentorship will have an immeasurable impact on elevating my vocal ability and stagecraft, both of which are pivotal as I move into the next stage of my career.”
Teresa Di Fava, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @t.4.teresa
TikTok: @t4teresa
About the Mentor
Leena is a leading-edge music educator, who has written and created accredited university curricula for various levels in the subject of songwriting at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, where she taught Vocals, Songwriting, Stage Performance, Artist Development, and Consulted on Student Projects for nearly 7 years before co-founding Songbird Society. Her studio credits have appeared on Billboard’s Dance/Mix Show National Airplay Chart, All Access’s MediaBase Dance Chart, Sirius XM’s Electro Chart, A State of Trance (Live), various Spotify and Apple Music Editorial Playlists, and both live and streamed music festivals across the globe.
Instagram: @leenaregan | @songbird_society
TRUC TRUONG
Partner Institution: University of South Australia
Mentored by: Dominique Keeley
Truc Truong is a visual artist working across sculpture and installation. Her practice explores power, belief, class, and the systems that shape how people live and behave. She uses humour, contradiction and critique to create works that sit between performance and ritual. Truc works with found objects, secondhand toys, textiles and everyday materials, reshaping them into layered sculptural forms. Her work has been exhibited at Primavera at the MCA, Gertrude Contemporary, Casula Powerhouse, FUMA and ACE. She is interested in how materials can speak, suggest intent, and reflect the ways value is constructed or passed down.
“This mentorship gives me the chance to work with a special effects artist using moulding, casting, and silicone fabrication techniques. It will allow me to expand my practice into more ambitious sculptural forms and build the skills I need to realise ideas that I haven’t been able to make until now.”
Truc Truong, Elevate Mentorship 2025 recipient.
Instagram: @truc.fakeit
About the Mentor
Dominique Keeley is a multidisciplinary visual artist, prop maker and designer working across film, theatre and music video. His practice focuses on hyperreal fabrication and sculptural storytelling through techniques such as prosthetic sculpting, mould-making, casting and surface finishing. He has worked on productions including The Survival of Kindness, The Devil’s Work, and Ribspreader, and recently created character transformations for Samstag Museum’s AFF EXPANDlab. Dominique’s work blends horror, humour and technical precision. As a mentor, he offers hands-on, specialised knowledge not often taught in art programs, making him an ideal guide for artists expanding into sculptural fabrication.
Instagram: @curiosfx
The Elevate Mentorship Program is proudly supported through a giving circle of philanthropic patrons and the Government of South Australia through CreateSA.
Images: (1) Bridget McCullough. Image supplied by the artist. (2) Cameron Longshaw. Image supplied by the artist. (3) Franca Lafosse. Image supplied by the artist. (4) Loeva Dunlevy. Image supplied by the artist. (5) Teresa Di Fava. Image supplied by the artist. (6) Truc Truong MCA Primavera 2023. Photography by Zan Wimberley.