Our Board
Interim Chair
Non Executive Director
Jennie Sager
JENNIE SAGER’s executive experience spans many sectors including media, marketing, sports, and tech. She has led groundbreaking campaigns for some of the world’s largest companies, driving growth across, brand awareness, and revenue. Jennie is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and creating impactful programs that make a difference.
As the CEO of the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL), Jennie is focused on expanding the league’s commercial partnerships, enhancing visibility, and fostering community engagement to elevate women’s basketball in Australia. Previously, she served as Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Nextdoor, shaping its brand strategy across key international markets, and as Director of Content Partnerships for Asia Pacific at Twitter, leading teams across multiple regions to drive strategic growth. Additionally, she has a long history of creating, directing, and producing award winning television programs around the world.
Jennie is also a dedicated advocate for social change, serving on the boards of City Recital Hall, Australian Women in Music, and Ending Loneliness Together. Originally from New York City, she now lives in Sydney with her husband, three boys, a dog, and two bunnies.
Treasurer
Non Executive Director
Jane Rybarz
JANE RYBARZ is a passionate live music supporter. She is also a Chartered Accountant and CPA who worked for KPMG in their Adelaide and Cairns offices before establishing and later selling the firm Rybarz Zappulla Chartered Accountants.
After leaving private practice she worked in senior finance roles in film, television and music with Southern Star Endemol, Moneypenny, Encompass Management, Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, NITV the National Indigenous Television Channel, and Vanessa Stoykov’s Evolution Media Group.
Jane also worked as CFO of Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation who reunite members of the Stolen Generation, and Financial Controller of the private members’ club the Australian Club.
Her current role is head of the finance team at the Ettalong Diggers Club where she is enjoying being involved in the local NSW Central Coast community.
Jane is co-author of “The District Commissioner”, the memoirs of David Milbourne Marsh OBE and his nation building work in Papua New Guinea 1940 to 1975, and is honorary Public Officer of the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia Inc.
She has served on the Boards of Aurora Community Television Ltd, WIFT – Women in Film and Television Association of NSW, FTA – Film & Television Association (FNQ), Cairns Regional Gallery VIPs Association, and the Australian American Association Inc Cairns.
Jane was an honorary consultant with Arts Law, and won the inaugural Cairns Business Woman of the Year Encouragement Award, and a North Queensland Radio Marketing award.
Secretary
Non Executive Director
Kristy Dixon
KRISTY DIXON is an expert in corporate and commercial law, with particular experience in mergers & acquisitions and capital raising. Kristy works closely with the directors and executives of her clients to pro-actively help them manage legal issues associated with the operation and growth of their businesses.
Her extensive M&A experience ranges from private sales and divestments to schemes of arrangement and takeovers. Kristy also regularly advises on corporate governance issues, restructures, joint venture arrangements and commercial contracts, and has a keen interest in emerging corporate structures.
AWMA FOUNDING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Non Executive Director
Vicki Gordon
VICKI GORDON is a Helpmann Award winning Music Producer who has been a ground breaking advocate for gender and cultural equality her entire career. She has extensive experience in the Australian music industry and the performing arts having worked as a musician, tour manager, artist manager, marketing director, festival director, cultural consultant, documentary maker, independent record label manager and music theatre producer. She has worked with First Nations artists for three decades and in 2000 was the first woman voted onto the ARIA Board as a Director in her own right to represent the Independents.
In the early 90s, Vicki founded the Australian Women’s Rock Institute producing Australia’s first training program for female DJs; Australia’s first All Girl Rock Festival and first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Contemporary Music Festival publishing the first Australian fanzine for female musicians.
In 2019, Vicki was the only Australian Music Executive in the TOP 100 AFR Women of Influence and a finalist in the 2020 Telstra Business Women’s Awards. She has been awarded a Human Rights Commendation, a Community Cultural Development Fellowship, a Women in the Arts Fellowship, Gold and Platinum ARIA Awards and the OZTIX Trailblazer Award in recognition of her contribution to industry.
Vicki also holds a Certificate of Completion in Indigenous Cultural Protocols for Business.
Non Executive Director
Zoe Hauptmann
ZOE HAUPTMANN is one of Australia’s most in demand session musician’s who has recorded and performed with some of the country’s most iconic artists including Paul Kelly, Neil Finn, Wendy Mathews, Kate Ceberano, Missy Higgins, Ian Moss, Kasey Chambers, Katie Noonan, Tim Rogers and Peter Garrett.
Zoe has recorded on over 80 albums, performed at every major Australian festival and at a multitude of venues in both capital cities and regionally. In 2017 and 2018 Zoe was a finalist in the National Live Music Awards for “Australia’s best bassist”. Internationally Zoe has toured throughout Asia, Europe and America.
Non Executive Director
Sarah McLeod
SARAH McLEOD is a founding member of the 3-time ARIA Award winning band the Superjesus.
With a successful career spanning over two decades, Sarah is an inductee into the South Australian Music Hall Of Fame. Sarah has released 3 albums with the superjesus and 3 solo Albums. Over recent years Mcleod has expanded her creative enterprises to include treading the boards in Green Day’s critically acclaimed American Idiot alongside Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson and Magic Dirt’s Adalita.
In 2022 Sarah embarked on a national tour with Shake & Stir’s powerful adaptation of Jane Eyre. McLeod composed the sound track, performs it live on stage on piano, whilst also performing a host of dark And diverse characters.
Sarah is ambassador for the Brick Lane Brewery in Victoria and the Airlie Beach Festival of Music in Far North Queensland.
With her strong work ethic and raw talent, Sarah is known for consistently delivering professional and vibrant work.
Non Executive Director
Yumi Stynes
YUMI STYNES is an author and broadcaster working on Gadigal land.
She was part of the seminal music TV channel, Channel [V], from the year 2000, spent a decade talking about music on the KiiS FM network and continues to support musicians through her work on the national broadcaster, Double J.
Yumi is probably best known from the hugely popular ABC podcast ‘Ladies, We Need to Talk’ – currently in its eighth season demystifying taboos around women’s bodies, health and love lives.
Her groundbreaking books co-authored with Dr Melissa Kang include this year’s ABIA Winner for Book of the Year for older Children, ‘Welcome to Sex’. The ‘Welcome to’ series of guidebooks have sold over a quarter of a million copies and been translated into 14 languages.
Non Executive Director
Anne Wiberg
After nine years as Chair of Music SA and six years as Associate Producer with the Adelaide Festival, Anne started her own business to continue working primarily in the music industry and the arts.
Her main clients included Darwin Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide Festival, State Government of South Australia, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia and Australian Independent Records. She has over 25 years’ experience in project management, festival and event producing, programming and consultancy. Anne is also a qualified social worker and worked in youth development for 15 years prior to moving to the arts.
Anne is a collaborator, programmer, mentor, networker, live music lover and a DJ, and a Board Director with Tutti Arts, a ground-breaking multi-arts organisation for artists with disability. Anne is currently the Artistic Director at Light Adelaide, a not-for-profit organisation supporting the arts and hospitality. The new live performance venue “The Lab” and the award-winning restaurant “Aurora” in Light Square have already made their mark in the West End of Adelaide.