Damien Anthony Rossi – Festival Ambassador

Known as Mr Hollywood in Oz, charismatic media personality Damien Anthony Rossi has show business in his blood – he was raised in a showbiz family in Tinseltown before moving to Brisbane in the early 1990s as a film and television Casting Director and establishing Rossi Casting Group.

Damien sold his casting company to focus on his career as a TV presenter, entertainment and events reporter and other media interests. In 2009, Damien was approached to join Queensland’s most-read newspaper, The Sunday Mail, as a contributor that led to him to become the Socials Editor, covering the state’s biggest and best events for the publication’s iconic social pages. In 2014 Damien joined the cast of Channel 7’s popular lifestyle program The Great Day Out (formerly The Great South East).

His larger-than-life personality and quick wit make Damien one of Brisbane’s most sought-after comperes regularly emceeing events with a Hollywood theme or fashion focus. Damien has hosted everything from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Townsville and the Channel 7 Brisbane Racing Carnival Fashions on the Field competition to the glamorous annual Gambaro Moet & Chandon Ball and Treasury Brisbane’s star-studded ICON fashion event.

Damien has served as an Ambassador for numerous high-profile annual festivals and events over the years including the Channel Seven Brisbane Racing Carnival (as Brisbane Racing Club’s inaugural Fashion Ambassador), Brisbane Festival, the NOOSA alive! Festival, Effervescence Champagne Festival and the Mackay Beach Horse Racing Festival.

Damien also knows how to throw a party, having hosted for nearly 20 years his own now-iconic annual Academy Awards Night charity event – Rossi’s Oscars, raising more than a quarter of a million dollars for cancer charities and cancer research over the last two decades.

Peter Dwyer – Judge

Master of Fine Arts, Peter Dwyer, has been head of department and lectured Fashion Illustration, Styling and Creative at the renowned Whitehouse Institute of Design. This followed his creative output in the field of ceramics with a lecturing role at University of New South Wales, College of Fine Art as well as working with City of Sydney as a cultural recreation officer and ceramics tutor. He also was head of Fashion Design at the Karl Von Busse Institute.

He has also had creative director roles at a number of major fashion events including the Australian Body Art Festival. Fashion Director, Schwarzkopf, Hair Expo Awards, Salon International London, Sydney Greek Festival, Craig Smith’s Schwarzkopf Photographic Collection of the Year. Peter has also designed the costumes for Marcia Hines and worked alongside iconic Australian designers Carla Zampatti and Nicola Finetti. He has had his work published in Culture Magazine, FRIZER, Estetica Italia, Coiffure and Style, Contemporary Home and Craft Australia.

Mildred (Milly) Ellwood – Judge

Milly is most well-known for being an active participant and judge for Australia’s leading Fashions on the Field. Embarking on this fashion journey in 2005, Milly was awarded in the Courier Mail Queensland’s Top 50 Most Stylish in 2014, Style Magazine’s Best Dressed Woman in Brisbane 2021, Fashions on the Field Runner-Up in Dubai 2013 from 1020 international contestants and was a Brisbane Racing Club Ambassador in 2021.

Milly was recently featured on Channel 9’s ‘My Way’ production highlighting her fashion style and creativity including her passion for using sustainable fabrics and promoting Australian designers in her looks.

Judy Copley – Judge

Judy is a Sunshine Coast based multi award-winning couture bridal and red carpet designer, specialising in dreamy custom made bridal and evening gowns for the unique, free spirited and modern woman.

From a young age Judy was always drawn to fabrics and textures designing her first creation out of crepe paper at the age of eight. Her mother was a seamstress at one of Melbourne’s Bridal Studio’s and this first sparked her fascination for the feel and fall of lush fabrics.

Working closely with each and every one of her clients, Judy develops a personal and close relationship during the designing process like no other. Her work is renowned for its unique, intricate, luxe beauty, combining vintage style with a modern contemporary touch. Each gown is hand sewn from her studio in Caloundra using the most beautiful soft tulles, satins, organzas and finest European lace, along with her own hand crafted lace.