Meet Monkey Baa’s Treasurer: Kai Kasad
Meet Monkey Baa’s Treasurer and discover the experiences and values that inspired them to join our Board. In this Q&A, they reflect on a lifelong love of theatre, a strong commitment to community service and the importance of creating meaningful arts experiences for young people. They also share what makes Monkey Baa’s work distinctive, the role of a Treasurer in supporting a not-for-profit arts organisation and a memorable childhood connection to live performance.
What inspired you to join Monkey Baa’s Board?
My decision to join Monkey Baa’s Board comes from a lifetime shaped by two powerful forces: a deep love of the arts and a genuine desire to give back to the community.
I grew up in a family that valued creativity and cultural expression. My parents introduced me to theatre at a young age, and school reinforced that love through stage productions, elocution and choir. Those early experiences weren’t just entertainment – they helped form my confidence, imagination and sense of belonging.
At the same time, my family instilled in me a strong commitment to service. Over the past two decades, I’ve run multiple marathons, raised funds for charities and volunteered in various community settings. I’m also a blood plasma donor for Lifeblood and a Sighted Guide for Achilles Melbourne, a volunteer-led, not-for-profit running and walking club that pairs people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or have low vision, with volunteer guides.
Helping others and giving back have always been part of my identity. But outside the sporting world, I’ve long felt drawn to contributing to a not-for-profit organisation, especially one that aligns with my passion for the arts.
Monkey Baa sits at the perfect intersection of these values. Joining the Board allows me to support an organisation that nurtures creativity in young people, champions Australian stories and uses theatre as a force for connection and growth. It feels like a natural extension of everything that has shaped me and is important to me.
From your perspective, what makes Monkey Baa’s work distinctive on the Australian landscape?
Monkey Baa is distinctive because it treats young audiences with a level of respect, ambition and artistic integrity that is rare. A few things stand out:
It creates high-quality theatre specifically for young people, recognising them as thoughtful, curious and deserving of excellence.
It brings Australian stories to the stage – stories that reflect the diversity, humour, challenges and beauty of our communities.
It has a long history of touring regionally and remotely, ensuring that children across the country, not just those in major cities, can experience live theatre.
It collaborates deeply with authors, educators and communities, making its work both artistically rich and educationally meaningful.
In a country where access to the arts can be uneven, Monkey Baa plays a vital role in ensuring that creativity, storytelling and cultural connection are available to all young people.
What is the role of a Treasurer, especially in a not-for-profit arts organisation like Monkey Baa?
The Treasurer is the organisation’s financial custodian, responsible for ensuring that Monkey Baa remains sustainable, accountable and strategically positioned for the future.
In a not-for-profit arts organisation, that means:
• Providing clear insight into budgets, forecasts and financial reporting.
• Supporting the Board and executive team in balancing artistic ambition with financial responsibility.
• Helping to diversify and strengthen revenue streams, from philanthropy and grants to partnerships.
• Making sure resources are used in ways that maximise impact for young audiences.
For me, it’s also about bringing my professional experience together with my personal passion for the arts so that Monkey Baa can continue creating transformative experiences for children across Australia.
Could you share a memorable theatre experience from your own childhood as an audience member?
One of my most vivid childhood memories is sitting in a theatre with my parents or in the school auditorium, waiting for the lights to dim. That moment – that feeling of being transported into a world of imagination – has stayed with me.
It inspired me to participate in school stage events, elocution and choir, and it sparked a lifelong appreciation for performance and storytelling. It’s that same spark I want young audiences to experience through Monkey Baa’s productions today. And it’s why I feel so strongly about supporting an organisation that creates those formative, unforgettable experiences for the next generation.
