John Leslie Art Prize

Louisa Waters

Curator, Gippsland Art Gallery

Louisa Waters is a curator at Gippsland Art Gallery in regional Victoria. She holds a PhD and her practice focuses on developing exhibitions and publications that foreground contemporary Australian artists, with particular attention to regional perspectives, material practices, and the role of art in shaping cultural narratives. She works closely with artists, communities, and writers to produce projects that connect regional audiences with broader conversations in art and culture.

Louise Tegart

Director Art Gallery of Ballarat

Louise Tegart is Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, one of Australia’s oldest and most significant regional galleries. With extensive experience in curatorial and leadership roles across major cultural institutions, she is recognised for her commitment to strengthening regional collections, supporting artists, and developing ambitious exhibition programs that connect local audiences with national and international art. She is also a respected writer and editor, contributing widely to exhibition catalogues and publications on Australian art. Her work champions the vital role regional galleries play within Australia’s cultural landscape.

Simon Gregg

Director, Gippsland Art Gallery

Simon Gregg is Director of Gippsland Art Gallery, where he has played a leading role in shaping the Gallery’s curatorial vision since 2009 and has served as Director since 2018. An art historian, curator and writer specialising in colonial and contemporary Australian art, he has curated major exhibitions and authored several significant publications, including Australian Odyssey, New Romantics and Spirits in the Bush. His work is distinguished by its depth of research and its commitment to positioning regional galleries as vital sites of cultural leadership and exchange.