Faces of AWNY: Meet Toni Short

Toni Short has called New York home for 14 years, serving as a dynamic host at the crossroads of corporate culture, creativity, and consciousness. Her career and life story are rich and multifaceted, making them difficult to summarize. However, those fortunate enough to collaborate with her over the past 25 years know that her work embodies a creative expression of authenticity that empowers others to feel recognized and valued.

Recently, her directorial debut, Meeting Mr. Oscar, a short film produced by her company We Go High Productions, was awarded an Honorable Mention at the London Rolling Film Festival. She also leads global experiences through her Shortlist Agency and shares women’s stories with her brand, Spirit Sister Stories, which hosts an event series called the WE RISE. TOUR. Toni is also a working artist with TRS The Artist, expanding her collaborations for the past 25 years, creating art that tells stories and authentic creative expression.

Why did you move to NYC?

For a new job although I knew in my heart I would end up here when I left Australia in 1999. I had worked for BBC doing events when I was in London in the early 2000s. That job came to a sudden end, and I tried to get something going with BBC in New York, but for many reasons, things didn’t line up. I ended up in DC working with a boutique event agency doing some cool stuff, but New York kept calling me. Five years later, a friend sent a link to a job listing for Director of Events for North and South America at BBC America, and with my background in events and years working for the brand, I knew it was my job. A few weeks later, I was moving to the Big Apple!

What do you do for work in NYC?

After four years with BBC America working on events like the Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary World Tour and Comic-Con, I decided to launch my own creative and event production company so I could work with a range of big brands and have the opportunity to travel and learn more about the entertainment world. Somehow, I also knew that live events didn’t need to be stressful, so I built a company and squad that created environments fostering creativity, integrity, innovation, and transparency for staff and clients alike. In 2020, I launched my artistic endeavors with TRS The Artist, sharing my body of work, including paintings, stories, poems, and video projects. Shortly after, I began writing scripts and acting and, from there, launched my film production company, We Go High Productions, to produce projects that share the intricacies of the human condition.

What are some ‘only in New York’ moments you’ve had?

Crying at a bus stop and being consoled by a homeless man. Discovering why certain subway cars are empty. Walking in torrential rain with flip-flops and no umbrella. Slipping on black ice. Almost colliding with pedestrians on their phones in the bike lane. Saving a drunk girl passed out on a subway platform. Sitting next to a random person at a bar that happens to be born on the same day as me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about living/working in NYC?

Be who you want to be. No one knows you and this is the city to reinvent yourself and follow your dreams.

Have you kept connections with Aussies/NZers in NYC? And what does that community of Aussies mean to you?

Absolutely, I seem to gravitate towards Aussies wherever I go. Having been away from Australia since 1999, there’s a huge comfort for me being surrounded by people who get me (or us), our way of life, and share our sense of humor! I have been fortunate enough to be part of AWNY since I arrived in 2011, serving as Secretary and Co-President. I enjoyed supporting those old and new to the city as they found their feet. I was also on the board of Australians in Washington when I lived there which was a great community to celebrate Aussie events like the footy grand final and Australia Day. Plus, we always shipped in party pies!!!

Fave place in NYC

The East River near my apartment. I have lost count of the number of sunrises and full moons I have sat there and watched. It’s my happy place where I get to see boats, birds, planes, and the water while contemplating life.