Resonate Magazine | Australian Music Centre

Image: Sia Ahmad and Chris O'Neill  

The Australian Music Centre (AMC) Board of Directors and management welcomes the appointment of Sia Ahmad and Chris O'Neill: two well respected and experienced music creators and industry leaders.

Music creator and curator, Sia Ahmad, and APRA AMCOS Director of Creative Programs & Stakeholder Engagement, Chris O'Neill will join Chair, Marshall McGuire, and Board members William Barton, Brad Cohen, Martel Ollerenshaw, and Tracy Morgan.

"We are thrilled that Sia and Chris are joining the AMC Board," says AMC CEO Catherine Haridy. "Both individuals bring unique skills, experiences, and insights from the art music sector through their work as creators and as champions of the Australian music community and industry. We look forward to their contributions as we continue to the place artists at the centre of all that we do."

Based in Canberra (Ngunnawal Country), Sia Ahmad is an award-winning songwriter, artist, improviser, curator and facilitator. She delivers a unique perspective in the development of creative communities through collaboration, producing eclectic performance outcomes. As a creator, Ahmad has been commissioned by the Australian Art Orchestra, CCAS, Parramasala, and You Are Here to create mixed-media works, and has performed throughout Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and Southeast Asia.

Chris O'Neill is overseeing APRA AMCOS's 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, he has written and performed with cross-genre artists, 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.

Alongside announcement of new Board members, the AMC is equally honoured to announce the extension of Martel Ollerenshaw's term on the AMC Board. As a creative producer and international arts broker, Martel provides a unique and grounded international perspective for the Australian art music sector and opportunities for cultural export, and champions pioneering, and often genre blurring work.

The new appointments follow the recent departure of Alison Wright from the AMC Board. "We farewell and thank Alison for her immense contributions to the AMC," says Haridy. "Since her appointment to the Board in 2021, Alison has been a strong advocate for the art music community, and we wish her well on her new endeavours."