MusicNSW is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors
Joining the Board are Mardi Caught, Rhoda Roberts AO, Michael Hutchings and Beau Neilson, each bringing significant industry experience and expertise to the state body for contemporary music.
Mardi Caught
Mardi Caught has nearly 30 years experience in the Australian music industry, with senior roles at Warner, EMI, and Sony in Australia and the UK. In the early 2000s, she was VP of Talent and Music at MTV UK. In 2018, Mardi founded The Annex, leading campaigns for artists like Lime Cordiale, Bluey, Genesis Owusu, Matt Corby, Porter Robinson, Maanyung, Tash Sultana, Alice Ivy, Royal Otis, and Hiatus Kaiyote.
Rhoda Roberts AO
Rhoda Roberts AO is a Widjabul Wiyabal woman from the Bundjalung territories and the creative force behind Parrtjima Festival (NT), Boomerang Dreaming (NSW), and Shine on Gimuy (QLD). She’s also the First Nations Advisor for Vivid Sydney. An accomplished arts executive with diverse experience in commercial, community, and non-profit sectors, Rhoda is currently the Elder in Residence for SBS, Creative Director, First Nations at NORPA, and a consultant with NIDA.
Michael Hutchings
Michael Hutchings is the Head of First Nations Programming at the Sydney Opera House. He has held key roles at Creative Australia and APRA AMCOS, and developed MusicNSW’s Whichway Program supporting First Nations artists and industry. He has also produced Creative Australia’s First Nations Arts and Culture Awards and Yabun Festival, curated First Nations roundtables, led artist mentoring and residency programs, and managed First Nations musicians.
Beau Neilson
Beau Neilson is the Creative Director & Executive Producer of Sydney’s award-winning Phoenix Central Park and has recently taken over The Vanguard in Newtown. A dedicated philanthropist and arts professional, Beau also serves as a trustee of the Powerhouse Museum, President of The Chippendale Collective, and a Gifting Committee Member for The Neilson Foundation, one of Australia’s largest arts and social cohesion-focused charities.
Chairperson Julian Knowles, Treasurer Kristy Wilson and general board member Vic McEwan continue in their roles, while Jane Slingo has assumed the role of Deputy Chairperson.
MusicNSW would also like to acknowledge and celebrate the immense contributions of Emily Nicol and Kathryn Holloway, who have concluded their six-year tenures as board members.
MusicNSW Chairperson Julian Knowles expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments and gratitude to outgoing members.
"We are thrilled to welcome Rhoda, Mardi, Beau and Michael to the MusicNSW board. Each of these individuals brings an incredible wealth of experience and a unique perspective that will be invaluable as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead in the music industry. Their expertise will be instrumental in our mission to drive the advancement of a thriving NSW music industry that is creative, innovative, resilient, diverse and internationally competitive.”
“I also take this opportunity to extend my thanks on behalf of the board and MusicNSW team to Emily and Kathryn. Your contributions have been critical to shaping the support that MusicNSW has been able to provide local artists and industry and we will carry that legacy into the future.”
MusicNSW works on the unceded land of the Gadigal people. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and extend those respects to the First Nations peoples of NSW and beyond. Always was, always will be.
MusicNSW is supported by Create NSW and APRA AMCOS.
