MusicNSW is very excited to share that our Managing Director Emily Collins has been announced as FBi Radio's 2018 SMAC of the Year!
"This is such an incredible honour and privilege," says Emily. "To receive this acknowledgement from an organisation I have such a long personal history with, and deep admiration for, means so much and I’m thrilled to bits!"
Introducing Emily at the ceremony, FBi Radio’s Managing Director Nikki Brogan said:
"The SMAC of the Year this year goes to a person who shares our belief that a vibrant viable culture is a legitimate public interest, and she has worked tirelessly to arrest the contraction of the music industry in NSW.
On the ground she’s provided invaluable hands-on support to artists and industry. With an eye always on who comes next, she’s made sure these offerings are accessible and relevant to people across the age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and ability spectrums.
At the same time as working to sustain the industry in all its diversity through this difficult period, she’s been instrumental in triggering the change we’re seeing in our politics. She’s been a driving force behind the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Music and Arts Economy, an advisor to the Callinan Review into the lockout laws, Deputy chair of the Australian Music Industry Network and member of the Cities, Nightlife and Creative Sector advisory panel.
Without fanfare, she has built a comprehensive case for culture in our state, helped unite a disparate industry around it and taken it with iron resolve to the corridors of power."
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year's SMAC awards, including Sampa the Great, Kwame and B Wise!
Image credit: Nicol Mouton
