Fiona Davies – successful small business woman and artist looking for starter board

Fiona Davies was born in Sydney in 1955. Her formal education consists of a B.Sc Applied Science (Textile Technology) University of NSW (1976), a B. A.(Visual Arts) University of Western Sydney in 1986, a Post Graduate Diploma of Visual Arts, Monash College, Gippsland in 1993 and a Master of Fine Art (by Research) Monash University in 2005.

Since 1976 Fiona has worked in the carpet industry in Australia and New Zealand. Her initial appointment was in mill based product development and quality control systems at Hycaft Carpets. This was followed by marketing and consultancy role within the Australian Wool Corporation providing carpet focused services within NSW and Queensland to architects, contractors, state government purchasing as well as domestic consumers. She was then appointed by the A.W.T.A. to provide services to users of testing, quality and compliance, as well as providing a focus on the carpet industry in particular.

Starting in 1986 she has operated a successful independent carpet consultancy providing a range of services to commercial carpet users. Her current clients include Leighton Properties, AMP Capital Investors, Paynter and Dixon, and the Department of Parliamentary Services. The services include specification, documentation, site inspections, quality compliance, expert witness and in one instance reconciling technical changes with ongoing design integrity.

In her art practice since 1986 her primary concerns are the relationships between art practice, museum practice and the telling of stories, often those stories less frequently told or excluded. She has exhibited in the Antarctic Gallery of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch (2004 and 2007), Blacktown Arts Centre (2007), Oceania Centre U.S.P. Suva (2005), and house museums such as Elizabeth Farm (1998), Old Government House (2003 and 2008) and Susannah Place (2000).

As well she has been included in important group exhibitions such as Anita and Beyond (2003) Penrith Regional Art Gallery and Breaking Ice: Revisioning Antarctica (2005) at the Adam Art Gallery in Wellington NZ. Recent conference presentations include the Polar Archive conference organised by the British Library, Arts Catalyst and the U.K. based Open University held in London on November 19-20 2007 .

Her board interests and aspirations include cultural institutions, media organisations, design and manufacturing.

fhdavies@bigpond.net.au