Brisbane
Event Team
Brendan Carlson
Host
Lives in
- Newstead
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Kathleen Crawford
Host
Lives in
- Brisbane
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Education
Zepporah Alberts
Group Leader
Lives in
- Ocean View
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Kate Campbell
Group Leader
Lives in
- Coorparoo
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Jane Curtis
Group Leader
Lives in
- Cornubia
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Paula Holden
Group Leader
Lives in
- clear mountain
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Group Leader (volunteer)
Joanne Spain
Group Leader
Lives in
- Ormeau
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Business Manager
Samantha Techer
Group Leader
Lives in
- Regents Park
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Teacher
Lish Timoko
Group Leader
Lives in
- West End
Motto
- Valuing connections, family and fitness
Hobbies
- Sports
Profession
- Regulatory Advisor
Evelyn Watson-Murphy
Group Leader
Lives in
- Mansfield
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Wine
Profession
-
Isabelle Bornaghi
Table Leader
Lives in
- Forest Lake
Motto
- The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (Nelson Mandela)
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
-
Maddy Church
Table Leader
Lives in
- Wynnum West
Motto
- 🤍 a life well lived and well loved
Hobbies
- Wine
Profession
- One day I will write a book
Brianna Joseph
Table Leader
Lives in
- Bowen hills
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Katrina Kupke
Table Leader
Lives in
- Corinda
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- Practice Manager
Lauren Noble
Table Leader
Lives in
- brisbane
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Coach
Sara Pole
Table Leader
Lives in
- Mount Warren Park
Motto
- Live for today.
Hobbies
- Traveling
Profession
- Primary School Teacher
Enza Schumann
Table Leader
Lives in
- Albion
Motto
- Live a life of fun and adventure
Hobbies
- Cooking
Profession
- Account Manager
Mark Techer
Table Leader
Lives in
- Regents Park
Motto
-
Hobbies
- Movies
Profession
- Retail
Helen Timoko
Table Leader
Lives in
- Wishart
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
- Hospitality
Cheryl Verdon
Table Leader
Lives in
- North Lakes
Motto
-
Hobbies
-
Profession
-
Victoria Wong
Table Leader
Lives in
- Wishart
Motto
- Everything will be okay in the end.
Hobbies
- Shopping
Profession
- Cardiac scientist
International team
Sandy Safi
Chief Executive Officer
Having started her career onstage in the performing arts, Sandy's love of the entertainment sector brought her to work in special events in 15 countries over the years. She has developed and managed large-scale concerts in Dubai, worked in the Opera world at prestigious locations such as the Los Angeles Opera, the Casino de Paris, and Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, and finally started her adventure with Diner en Blanc in 2011, when she applied her network and her experience to facilitate the first American Diner en Blanc in New York. She co-founded Diner en Blanc International in 2012, and then became the sole owner of the Diner en Blanc trademark and company in 2022. Above all, Sandy seeks to encourage creativity and connect culinary communities around the world.
Chantal Blanchard
Public Relations Specialist
As a publicist in the world of entertainment, Chantal was fortunate enough to travel the world for many years with Cirque du Soleil. Those amazing years on the road gave her the opportunity to somewhat satisfy her thirst for everything that is lifestyle i.e. food, wine, cocktails, fashion, urban life, architecture, design, etc. As Chantal would say “this career path and passion for all that is good in life predestined her to join the team of Diner en Blanc International.
Lucia Sacco
Accounting & HR
Lucia brings over 2 decades of administrative and accounting experience to Diner en Blanc International. She has worked in the event planning industry since 2007 whereby she occupied the position of Accounting Director and Office Manager. “I feel blessed to be able to combine my organizational skills and passion for bringing events to life towards a career at Diner en Blanc International,” says Lucia. Her interpersonal skills are an asset when communicating with hosts and dealing with accounting specialists or government offices, all the while maintaining a high level of integrity.
Zina Acherir
Senior Project Manager
Zina is a passionate and creative professional with concrete organizational and planning skills. Her educational background in event management allows her to innovate, communicate and visually translate ideas and visions to memorable experiences. Zina enjoys networking, planning, and travelling. "Working at Diner en Blanc International allows me to practice my passion on a daily basis and gives me the opportunity to meet amazing hosts all around the world, which also gives me the advantage of learning about different cultures and how other cities manage events."
Jennifer Soto
Operations Manager
Jennifer’s experience in management in the education sector gives her the perfect balance of leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. She loves working with hosts around the world, helping them plan their events in an organized and timely manner, while showing empathy and understanding of each city’s differences and needs. “I feel privileged to work with the team of Diner En Blanc International and be surrounded by culture, diversity, food, music, and friendship.”
Liza Belikova
Sponsorship and Events Project Manager
Liza’s background in Arts Administration brings both structure and creative flow to event management. With experience in operations, hospitality, and large-scale event coordination, she enjoys creating seamless guest experiences and being part of the details that make every Dîner en Blanc evening feel elegant, welcoming, and memorable. In her free time, you can usually find her wandering through a museum, discovering a new restaurant, or planning her next trip.
Fiorella Arbanil
Client Relations & Business Development
With over two decades of service in customer relations and twelve years of sales experience, Fiorella brings a wealth of expertise to her current role in Client Relations and Business Development. It is her mission to identify and secure hosts to produce Le Diner en Blanc events in cities worldwide. With a bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing, and social media management, she has cultivated a strong foundation for driving strategic growth and fostering enduring client partnerships, and she is committed to expanding the reach and impact of Diner en Blanc globally.
Judy Turk
Social Media Specialist
With a background in interior architecture and filmmaking, Judy brings four years of experience in content creation and video production to her role as Social Media Specialist. She develops engaging social media campaigns and visual content for Diner en Blanc Montreal and New York while also contributing to Diner en Blanc International's global advertising campaigns. Having lived in several countries and speaking multiple languages, she enjoys working in multicultural environments and creating content that resonates with diverse audiences. Judy is passionate about the arts, including painting, acting, singing, photography, fashion, and travel.
David Gallego
Full Stack Developer
David is a passionate software developer who brings creativity and dedication to every project. He believes that helping others meet their goals is how we drive innovation and create meaningful change. He also possesses the ability to adapt to different situations and offer a unique perspective which enriches discussions and fosters a culture of creative problem-solving.
