Our Board

Damian began his music industry career in 1981 at CBS Records. When Sony restarted its publishing arm in 1992, Damian was appointed Managing Director of Sony Publishing Australia. Following the merger of Sony Music Publishing with EMI Music Publishing in 2012, he was appointed Managing Director of the combined publishing companies. Damian has served on the Sony Publishing Australia board since 2000 and is the current Deputy Chair. He is also a director and former Chair of the APRA AMCOS (music rights management organisation) Board and is a Director of AMPAL (industry collective for music publishers in Australasia). Damian worked closely with the singer Gurrumul Yunupingu and several remote Indigenous musicians to help build and support their careers, taking their music to national and international audiences.

Don is a senior Yolŋu man from Galiwin’ku and Gurrumul’s brother-in-law. His status is that of a cultural leader, also known as Djungaya. In that role he has responsibility for cultural and family matters involving Gurrumul’s family. Recently, Don co-directed Buŋgul, based on Gurrumul’s posthumously released album, Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow). Receiving glowing reviews, Buŋgul was an opportunity for audiences to immerse themselves in Yolŋu music and dance, combined with Europe’s musical tradition.

Jenny is an Amnatyerr, Kaytetye and Alyawarr woman from Alice Springs. She is currently the Director at Central Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) for Central Australia. Over the years, Jenny has accumulated skills in negotiating information and practice in education, social services, law, governance, and health between two cultures. Jenny’s work history complements her desire to improve opportunities for children, families, students, and the wider community. Combined with this is a strong motivation to see Aboriginal cultures shared, incorporated, and recognised more widely in education, health, support, and communication networks.

Paul is a First Nations Arrernte Elder from Alice Springs. He has Aboriginal, Chinese, and European ancestry. Linked always with a strong sense of community and family, Paul has worked in the fields of sport, business and music, His key goal is to assist wherever possible in providing opportunities and pathways for individuals or groups to become economically self-sufficient with an ability to make choices about their future and day-to-day living.   Currently Paul is embarking on an exciting re-entry into the creative industry which includes music and film.

Michael has worked in the Northern Territory (NT) for 21 years, specifically in music and teaching, covering more than 20 remote Indigenous communities. As a classically trained double bass player, he was employed as Coordinator of VET Contemporary Music Certificate for Charles Darwin University which incorporated course delivery into remote Indigenous communities. He established the independent record label – Skinnyfish Music Pty Ltd together with Mark Grose and has since produced numerous ARIA award-winning albums (Gurrumul, Saltwater Band and Nabarlek) as well as receiving his own ARIA nomination for Producer of the Year 2008. Michael was awarded Australian of the Year (NT) in 2013 (in partnership with Mark Grose).