Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Sia Ahmad

Sia Ahmad brings over two decades of diverse music and arts industry experience and knowledge to her role as Director of MusicACT, including as a professional artist releasing a range of award-winning original music worldwide and performing at renowned venues and festivals including the City Recital Hall, Dark Mofo, SXSW Austin, Sydney Opera House and WOMADelaide. Working in the arts since 2011, she most recently led the Creative Experience team at Ainslie+Gorman and manages the Artist Accelerator Program for Music in Exile, a not-for-profit supporting musicians with migrant or displaced lived experiences. Additionally, Sia curated and managed record label hellosQuare between 2004-2019.

Sia is currently the board director for the Australian Music Centre, and has also served on the boards of the Australian Art Orchestra and Girls Rock! Canberra. From 2018 to 2021, she was a member of the ACT Ministers’ Creative Council and the LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council.

As director of MusicACT, Sia steers ACT’s peak-body for contemporary music and oversees its strategic direction in conversation with MusicACT's committee.

William Barton

William Barton is Australia's leading didgeridoo player as well as composer, instrumentalist and vocalist.

William first learnt the instrument from his uncle, Arthur Peterson, an elder of the Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga people and was working from an early age with traditional dance groups and fusion/rock jazz bands, orchestras, string quartets, and mixed ensembles.

Throughout his diverse career he has forged a path in the classical musical world, from the London, Berlin and Bremer Philharmonic Orchestras to historic events at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day 2019, at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and for the Beijing Olympics.

William holds honorary doctorates from both Griffith University and the University of Sydney, has released five albums on the ABC Classics label including HEARTLAND, released in 2022, with Véronique Serret and the words of William’s mother, Aunty Delmae Barton. William has been developing a new musical language, which is epitomised in this record.

William was named Queensland Australian of the Year for 2023 and was an Australian of the Year nominee. He has been awarded with multiple APRA AMCOS Screen Awards, an AACTA Award, and an ARIA Award for his work with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for the soundtrack from the film “River”. His other awards include the prestigious Don Banks Music Award from the Australia Council in 2021, Winner of Best Original Score for a Mainstage Production at the 2018 Sydney Theatre Awards and Winner of Best Classical Album with an ARIA for Birdsong At Dusk in 2012.

Tracy Morgan

Non-Executive Director (Chair AFG Committee)
MBA (Macq.). CAHRI, GAICD

Tracy is the Chief Executive Officer (Australia) for World Hope International. She has over 25 years’ executive and consulting experience, including 10 years running her own consulting practice, working with organisations navigating change. Her career spans NFP leadership, strategy facilitation and development, change management, financial management, executive search, human resources consulting and organisational design.

Tracy’s board roles include NED, Co-Deputy Chair and Chair Finance & Audit Committee for Wesley Mission, Chair of The Housing Connection, and Non-Executive Director roles at Sylvanvale Disability Services and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Martel Ollerenshaw

Director, Arts & Parts

Martel Ollerenshaw is a curator and creative producer. Her interests include sound, music and interdisciplinary art that has an environmental focus, and the development of creative artists at all stages of careers. She leads Arts & Parts, and curates and/or produces acclaimed pioneering and genre blurring work for a diverse array of international artists and organisations, including the National Museum of Australia, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide Festivals, City of Melbourne, Hull 2017 UK City of Culture, Serious International Music Producers, Greater London Authority, Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Harewood House, British Council, Creative Scotland, London’s Barbican, Punkt Festival, Stadtgarten Köln, Pro Helvetia, and many others. Active in the new and adventurous music community, between 2018 and 2022 she was vice president of the Europe Jazz Network (EU funded, 200 members in 37 countries) and is a current board member of hcmf// (Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival) and Making Tracks (the international music exchange programme with an environmental focus).

Chris O'Neill

Artist, advocate, and industry stalwart Chris O’Neill has been committed to music for more than a decade. While he graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Music, it’s been his work on and off the stage that has built his profile and reputation. Chris makes a daily contribution to supporting songwriters through his role at APRA AMCOS as Director – Creative Programs & Stakeholder Engagement, where he oversees the National bespoke programs for members, and engages with industry organisations around the country. Chris also serves as a Deputy Chair at Music Victoria. An acclaimed drummer, Chris has written and performed with artists from just about every genre, made numerous records, and performed on stages around the country including major festivals such as Prima Vera, Splendour in the Grass and Big Day Out.

Alan Watt

Alan Watt is the Associate Director of Philanthropy for the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics (CGCPT), at the University of Melbourne. Alan has an extensive background in arts management and philanthropy, having worked with organisations such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Youth Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields in London, where he was CEO, and most recently, Sydney Dance Company. His expertise spans philanthropy strategy development, executive management and consultancy. Alan's career highlights include successfully leading the Academy of St Martin in the Fields through major organisational change and the COVID-19 pandemic, and growing philanthropic income through dynamic stakeholder engagement. He has first-hand experience working with small charities and helping them to successfully grow, increase their fundraising revenue and develop change plans. He has also mentored creative entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers. Alan has a BA and BMus from the University of Melbourne and an MA in Cultural & Creative Industries from King’s College London. He was previously a casual member of the Opera Australia chorus.