Chair of QL2 Dance, Richard Refshauge says Kendell, formerly the office manager at Canberra Glassworks will bring a significant level of finance experience and qualifications, and a passion for the creative arts, which will serve QL2 Dance well.

Artistic director of QL2 Dance and its Quantum Leap ensemble, Ruth Osborne says: “Mary brings her own skills and experience to the role of GM and it will be exciting to see what her new perspective will have on us — staff, teachers, choreographers, dancers, parents, partner organisations and colleagues.”

She also praised Barnes, QL2 Dance’s only general manager so far, saying: “Gary Barnes has worked beside me through all this time and has been crucial to our development, success and longevity.”

Refshauge joined Osborne in paying tribute to Barnes, expressing the hope that from retirement, he would give the company his “support and, where needed, his expertise and wise counsel”.

Kendell says: “I am extremely proud and excited about working at QL2. My hope is to learn from Ruth and to support her in this quest to develop and empower dancers and dance-makers. This position combines what I am really good at with what I am passionate about.”