SPEAKER: Amanda Jackes TOPIC: Woodfordia

Amanda Jackes is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Woodfordia Inc, producers of the iconic Woodford Folk Festival, the innovative festival of The Planting, the national regional touring programme Festival of Small Halls and the holiday camping escape Lake Gkula Camping.  Woodfordia Inc also established the 500 acre venue Woodfordia, a cultural parkland dedicated to the arts and humanities which is underpinned by strong environmental leadership. Woodfordia Inc is a creative and ambitious organisation whose ideology is uniquely expressed in its 500 year plan. Amanda is an enthusiastic leader who achieves through combining creative, practical, optimistic and measurable approaches to community, cultural and environmental engagement.

The Woodford Folk Festival is a vibrant celebration of Australia's rich cultural diversity, featuring over 2,000 local, national, and international artists and musicians across a wide array of genres and art forms. During its six-day run, the festival transforms the rural site of Woodfordia into a bustling hub, effectively becoming the 67th largest town in Australia with an aggregate attendance of around 100,000 people. This significant gathering contributes an estimated $32 million annually to Queensland's economy, underscoring its vital role in the state's cultural and economic landscape. Recognised as the largest assembly of artists and musicians in the country, the festival offers a diverse program that includes music, dance, cabaret, circus, comedy, workshops, debates, street theatre, films, and visual arts, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and creative expression.