About Gianna Totaro

I am a self-starter whose management style is both participative and collaborative. From planning to delivery, I lead by example through hard work, loyalty, ethics and commitment.

I have worked in management and communication roles in the public and private sectors and for over 20 years in the ADR industry for the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia (‘IAMA’), the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (‘ACICA’) and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia (‘CIArb’).

Other experience

• Member of the launch team of The Sunday Age newspaper and Publications and New Projects Department of The Age newspaper;
• Co-editor, with John Jost and Christine Tyshing of “The Demidenko File” (Penguin), a commentary on one of Australia’s great literary scandals.
• Project Consultant to the Australian Film Television Radio School (‘AFTRS’), organising the launch of the Digital Training Centre opened by the Minister for Communications and the Arts;
• Member of the Organising Committee for the Visions for Australia Awards: Environment Australia, a national awards program which recognised exceptional achievement in environmental management and design (Business, Government and Journalism) and Member of the Judging Panel (Journalism). Opened by the Minister for the Environment.
• Founding Member and Inaugural VP, Secretary and General Manager of the Sorrento Writers Festival;
• Contract work for publishing, film, global management consultancy, Resolution Institute and ASX companies.

A keen traveller with an interest in national and international affairs, I have occasionally combined trips with freelance journalism for ABC radio, commercial broadcasters and newspapers. Highlights include reporting on the US Presidential Elections from Little Rock (1992), the Inauguration and the Presidential Ball in Washington DC (1993) and the US Presidential Addresses at the Great Hall and to Both Houses of Parliament in Canberra (1996).

For many years I volunteered at the Fitzroy Legal Service and the Melbourne Writers Festival.

On a personal level, interests include the visual arts, music and literature. If the opportunity arose, I would take the Trans-Siberian Express with the ghost of Christopher Hitchens. To while away the time – it takes nine days, after all – I would have him read to me his book, “Letters to a Young Contrarian”. Then he could read it again. And again … and again.