Meet the Team

We're a dedicated team of passionate people championing the work of wonderful creatives. We inject goodness into Australia's creative economy on the daily, working to elevate small businesses around the country through our market events, virtual events, Online Marketplace and Creative Business Summits.

Headed up by founders and owners Brooke Johnston and Sarah Thornton from the Northern Rivers of NSW, our team is a constellation of all stars set up in different corners of the country.

Sarah Thornton

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

"My personal mission is to empower others to do great things. I'm happiest when I have space to create, being in big wide open spaces with a sea breeze and great company".

Sarah heads up the Finders Keepers team alongside her business partner and co-founder BFF Brooke. From her time in the trenches of building a small business, she now understands how to build (and scale) a brand all the way from the nitty gritty to high level creative direction. From her background as a designer selling behind a market stall, to wearing many different business hats, she brings a wealth of gathered knowledge to her role as Managing Director.

Sarah oversees and drives key areas alongside her killer team and believes everyone should be their own leader. She also believes that good design is KEY to a strong brand, and strong organisation is an integral part of running the (best) show. Sarah is constantly thinking outside the square and vision planning. Her passion for authentic design, community connection and strategy has her developing new and innovative projects in her sleep.

Brooke Johnston

DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

"I love creating in all forms. My personal mission is to create spaces and experiences with beauty and purpose. I'm not sure what's better, witnessing projects coming to life or inspiring others along the way".

Together with her business partner Sarah, Brooke is the other half of their super synergistic working partnership. Brooke's background in jewellery design and running her own brand, was the catalyst and original inspiration behind the Finders Keepers inception many moons ago. Over the years, Brooke has accumulated a vast design and manufacturing knowledge and it's her eagle detail eye that you can thank for our continued high quality calibre of events.

If you've ever been to a market with us you'll have witnessed the magic of Brooke's creative mastery, transform our venues into vessels of joy and wonder! She's oh-so-passionate about great design and craftsmanship, which has seen Finders Keepers grow into the quality curated events that we know and love today. Her personal passion is embedded in everything she touches, creating engaging environments that inspire and uplift us all.

Lindsay Pepper

NATIONAL EVENTS MANAGER

"I'm on this earth not only to survive but to thrive! It's my mission to live a full life with passion, compassion, humor and a side dish of style."

Lindsay is one helluva powerhouse that comes to us from a career in managing mammoth events with one of Australia's largest hotel groups. She also grew up within her family's design business. Her skills to support streamlining and success are nothing short of super! Her personality is as big as her heart, and you'll love her as much as we all do the minute you meet her.

Lindsay's the one that makes sure every road trip runs seamlessly with an execution average that sits at the highest end of the calibre scale. From crafting mammoth floor-plans to writing run-sheets, Lindsay steers a tight ship. Best yet, she always does it with enthusiasm and infectious energy that keeps everyone upbeat.

Roxanna Chan

EVENT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

“My mission is to share the creative spirit so it sparks the inner you!”

Roxanna is our Events 2IC and is the go-to gal for all things food and beverage. Working alongside our National Events Manager Lindsay, together this powerhouse team ensures the operations of The Finders Keepers is running optimally at all times. Not to mention brainstorming and investigating new, fun ideas for FK’s evolution!

Roxanna has worked the gamut from product development, publications, teaching and events always finding the creative side to life. She thrives on creating space for thoughtful being, living and doing and in her free time you can spot her using her jewellery skills to spread the good vibes through hands-on workshops.

 

Leana Rack

Advertising and Partnerships Manager

“I am passionate about fostering and building relationships. I thrive on good conversations and believe every moment is an opportunity – seize it!” 

Leana is The Finders Keepers’ resident relationship guru. As well as developing very serious strategies for diversifying revenue, she focuses on creating meaningful pathways for partnerships. Leana thrives on relationship building and looking for brand synergy to execute our vibrant advertising campaigns and building our partnership community. 

Her strong analytical and strategic thinking elevates brands with a key focus on innovation, opportunity and revenue building. Have an idea? Want to work together? Want to grow with us? Leana is an opportunity seeker and has extensive experience in ecommerce and sales marketing strategy, working intimately with The Finders Keepers to execute and build revenue streams. 

Leana has worked for leading industry brands such as Brookfarm, Patagonia, Seea and Billabong.

Ashleigh Stallard

Community and Relationships Manager

"I believe in the power of voting with our wallets. I like to think that I live up to my sustainability values and along the way inspire those around me to do so too!"

Ashleigh comes from a background in journalism and PR and is passionate about supporting makers with sustainability at the heart of their business. She's a vocal advocate for Australian makers, running her own side hustle spruiking all about slow made, sustainable fashion and conscious consumption to help others find their ‘enoughness’. 

As community and relationships manager, Ashleigh ensures our stallholders, fans, partners and the media are always in-the-know with all things FK, sharing opportunities and news to build momentum for the conscious shopping revolution.

She also heads up our Indigenous Program, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander makers, artisans and designers to maximise their exposure to the engaged FK audience.

Ash also happens to be our wonderful waste warrior, full of tips to help reduce our environmental impact.

 

Daisy Braid

Social Media and Content Manager

“I'm passionate about creative self care! With so much going on in our world right now, I think everyone can benefit from getting a little bit crafty or just doing something different with their hands.”

'DIY Daisy' is our very own resident crafter and sewing blogger, heading up our social channels and blog to spotlight the amazing talent in the FK community.

With a marketing background, Daisy has been creating social content for brands in the home sewing, craft and textiles industry for the last four years, including Nerida Hansen, Cricut, In The Folds, The Fabric Store and Swim Style Patterns.

Daisy lives and breathes creativity as she shares free sewing tutorials to encourage and inspire makers of all levels to DIY their dream wardrobe.

Emma Field

Community Support Specialist

“I am happiest when I'm around people – I love supporting others and sharing their highs and lows. I think that's why I enjoy creating engagement rings for my clients, what an incredible moment to share!”

Emma is our community support superstar! She's your gal on this end of the email and we're honestly not sure what we'd do without her.

Joining the team in mid-2021, it didn't take long for our stallholders to fall for Emma as she truly walks the stallholder walk with her eponymous jewellery label. Emma knows the juggle is real, balancing bespoke jewellery making with roles in marketing and customer service.

She knows exactly what it's like to be a small creative business owner, making Em the perfect addition to the FK fam.