Casey attended Narrabundah College, graduating in 2005 with an International Baccalaureate before proceeding to the ANU where she undertook a BA (Visual Arts) and a BA (Asian Studies). Her major studies were in painting and Japanese, a natural elision for someone who had access to her father's collection of Japanese woodblock prints, a genre that had a major impact on the development of modern painting in late-nineteenth century Paris. Her interest in Japanese was pursued through high school and college. She has visited Japan a number of times and in 2009 while an undergraduate was awarded an ANU Endeavour Student Scholarship to study as an exchange student at Kyoto Seika University. Prior to taking up the scholarship Casey spent some months travelling and working in Japan, including a period as a white-water rafting guide at an outdoor adventure centre in Hokkaido. I was not surprised to learn that she had not done this before but as a serious "doer" she took it in her stride. (I didn't ask if she has done it since!).

In the Painting Workshop her teachers were Ruth Waller, Elisa Crossing and Peter Maloney. Each has a strongly developed artistic persona and approaches his/her art in highly individual ways. Casey approached her studies with an enquiring mind, informed by her language studies and interest in the ways different cultures influence one another. Art for her is not just a means of personal fulfilment and enrichment but is a discipline that opens discussions over a range of themes and topics, sometimes not easy but always part of a dialogue, one that should be available to all interested enough to be become engaged.

On completion of her studies Casey elected not to do postgraduate work but rather was more interested in getting out into the art (and wider) community to pursue ways that art can engage people, build communities and open people to experiences different from those they might normally experience. One way she did this was to work for a brief period as art centre co-ordinator at Mirndiyan, Gununa on Mornington Island. Among the artists she worked with was Sally Gabori, arguably one of the most significant contemporary female indigenous artists. Casey also worked in a number of capacities at the National Gallery of Australia prior to, and indeed after taking up the role of exhibitions and promotions co-ordinator at M16 Artspace in September 2011.

M16 was a more than serendipitous choice for Casey. Not only did she attend primary school at the Griffith premises but Griffith Library (its manifestation before M16 moved there from Fyshwick) was also a key place for her.

Given her predilection for making art and artists part of a wider community, M16 was the perfect fit. Its open access policies and professional infrastructure and spaces allowed Casey the opportunity to put into practice the ideas that informed her approach to the role of art in contemporary society. M16 is not a large organisation. It is precisely its size that provided the challenges that have stimulated Casey's program development and the accompanying profile. Her input has been substantial and the experience of such direct and hands-on engagement has been not only rewarding for her but also for the local community.

Her almost evangelical zeal for building community through the arts has not precluded her continuing with her own art practice. She paints every day – her sketchbook and the kitchen table are her studio. Haptic Gaze, an exhibition of her work and that of two other artists (both of whom are M16 studio-holders), was held recently at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre.

Casey sees her time in Nottingham as a period that offers new and different challenges. She has done her homework and hopes to become involved with the local art scene through the New Art Exchange, an organisation that specialises in bringing new Asian art to Britain. She will of course have access to some of the finest collections in the world and will continue to pursue her interests in how, through embracing art, communities can thrive and prosper.

Where does Casey see herself in five years? Curatorial work will allow her scope to tell stories that are accessible and meaningful. It will also provide opportunities to further explore her ongoing researches into Asian (and other) cultures as well as investigating the way different artworks operate within gallery spaces and the subsequent effect of those interactions on the gallery visitor (she originally wanted to be an architect). At this stage in her life though, Casey is keeping an open mind. She intends to return to Canberra but I am sure she will not let any opportunities pass. I wish her well.