Entrepreneur and community member, the award-winning Tish Naughton has been appointed CEO of Adelaide's Feast Festival.
Feast Festival is Adelaide's not-for-profit queer arts and cultural festival, bringing together LGBTQIA+ artists and community members to celebrate all things pride.
Tish Naughton brings a wealth of experience in business and financial management – plus she's been a part of the Feast family for a few months already, joining as Operations Manager in February. Tish says the event means a lot to her.
“Feast Festival has played an important part in my life, and Picnic In The Park was always my favourite day of the year,” she says. “I'm excited to bring back some much-loved classics plus be able to introduce a new format with new events to reconnect with our community and grow our influence.”
Tish is an award-winning entrepreneur, and was named a finalist in the Business Blueprint Female Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in 2015. She was also named as part of Anthill Australia's Top 30 Under-30 Entrepreneurs in 2013 and won the In-Business Young Business Leader Of The Year in 2011.
“I've been running my own businesses – dry cleaning and mortgage broking – for over a decade while renovating at the same time. After an injury at the end of my last renovation project, I decided to take a break,” Tish explains.
“I sold my businesses and properties and tried out a different pace of life. I was in the middle of turning my van into a campervan when the opportunity became available at Feast. While I have done a lot in my life, most of what I have achieved would be considered 'commercial success'.”
“Working with Feast offers an opportunity to use my business skillset for a higher purpose. I want to listen and learn from all of our communities' beautiful intersections to deliver a festival that the people want, not what I want. My role is to make it happen.”
Image © Naomi Jellicoe
Tish was selected for the role through a nationally competitive process. Of what's to come in her role, she says she's looking forward to taking Feast to new levels.
“We grow by working together. I want to help elevate our artists and our community,” she says. “I'm here not just for the festival, but to help Feast play a bigger role, and maximise its position to fulfil a greater purpose, towards inclusivity and community connection.”
An out and proud lesbian, Tish and Feast go way back to 2007. She says the festival and its sense of community and celebration made her feel as though she belonged. Now, as CEO, Tish is amped and ready to bring this same feeling to attendees of future Feast Festivals.
“To find acceptance and love and make new friends, instantly wipes away any self-doubt. Feast is empowering, particularly if you're starting out on your own self-discovery journey,” Tish says.
“Everyone deserves to feel welcome, loved, and celebrated. I want to ensure that Feast is able to flourish well into the future to provide a home and safe space for people to be whoever they want to be, love whoever they want to love and express themselves in all their individual beauty.
“I am a fiercely passionate, dedicated, and motivated person. When I commit to something, I give it my all. I've got skin in the game now and I'm beyond excited for Feast's future!”
This story originally appeared on our queer sister site, FROOTY.
