Anna Robb

descendants of Chris & Maureen

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• Read the profile of Anna Robb from the 14th WoodChips newsletter.
• Below is the text and photo from an article that appeared in the Daily Advertiser, 23 Aug 2005, page 3.

From staging events in Vietnam to working on the Australian Idol grand final at the Sydney Opera House, Charles Sturt University graduate Anna Robb has done it all.
After completing her Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television) Honours in 2000, Anna headed straight to Sydney where she “did any work I could get my hands on”.
From rigging lights to stage managing on a small scale, Anna has worked her way to a variety of different projects.
“I started in theatre but have moved on to much broader things,” Anna said.
“I like to keep the challenges coming and it’s all about making contacts and showing a willingness to learn and adapt.”
Credits to Anna’s name include being production manager for The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Australian Tour in 2003/04, which included taking the Rock Challenge to South Africa, and working as a technical director with the Sydney-based events management company Now! Events.
Anna also staged managed the ground for the recent Bledisloe Cup match at Telstra Stadium and worked on the Australian Idol grand final.
“When I’m not doing contracted gigs I work casually at the Opera House,” she said.
Anna was welcomed back to the Wagga Campus this week as a guest lecturer, sharing some of her experiences with current CSU students.
Part of her reason for returning was to share with students some of the tips of the trade.
“The best thing about this course is that it gives you a basic grounding in the different areas of production,” Anna explained.
“That’s important as it is necessary to know every area to work in the industry in Australia, as it’s quite small and you need to be multi-skilled.
“One thing I have learned, though, is that you need to know more from a business sense.
“It’s the nature of the industry that people freelance so you have to know about tax management and ABNs and things like that.”
Anna also gave the students words of advice.
“Being in this industry consumes your life,” she said.
“It is a lot of hard work, and sometimes all you want is a weekend off, but if you’re passionate about what you do, the rewards are there.”
So what’s next for Anna?
In September, she will be involved in the staging of the Russian Ice Circus, coming to the Superdome in Sydney and the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne, while in October she will be working on CASPA, an event that will see 4000 students performing at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
“I will be flat chat but I like the variety – I think I’m addicted to it!”