Juror Council
The AWMA Juror Council reflects a wide cross section of artists and industry professionals each of whom provide significant expertise in their respective areas and a broad perspective and overview to the Juror process.
AWMA Juror Chair
Dr Diana Tolmie
Dr Diana Tolmie is Senior Lecturer of Professional Practice at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, D’Addario International Artist, and honoured to be Chair of the Juror Council for the Australian Women in Music Awards, a position she has held since 2020.
Passionately teaching and researching performance, pedagogy, musicians’ health and vocational preparation, her ongoing nation-wide investigation in the Transferable Skills of Musicians has seen her deliver a TEDx talk and guest on ABC radio.
Her teaching excellence has been nationally recognised by a University Australia Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2018), a 2021 Australian Universities Award for Teaching Excellence (Creative Arts) – the most recognised national teaching award in her field, and the 2023 AFR Higher Education (Employability) Award.
She continues to lead an exciting life as a freelance woodwind specialist in a multitude of genres, performing in countless interstate and international tours, plus appearing in live radio and television broadcasts as performer and speaker. Through her role as an artistic talent consultant, she advocates for gender equality in the workplace.
Juror Council
Emily Allen
Engagement & Impact, ANU School of Music + Art & Design (ACT)
Chiou See Anderson
Australian Head of Delegation Women20 (QLD)
Vice President – Commercial & Creative
Universal Music Publishing (NSW)
Paul ‘Browny’ Brown
CEO/Editor-In-Chief of Wall Of Sound (QLD)
Dr Nicole Canham
Classical Lecturer, Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, Monash University (VIC)
Dr Leigh Carriage
Senior Lecturer Southern Cross University (NSW)
Meg Cohen
Artistic Director Moirai & Wattleseed Ensemble; Former Director Sydney Baroque Music Festival (VIC)
Celia Craig
Biennial Artist, Created SA (SA)
Louise Denson
Pianist/composer/educator, Former QCGU Academic QLD (TAS)
Kerry Digby
Creative Industries Management (NT)
Ashleigh Edwards
Partnership Marketing Lead, Oztix (QLD)
Stephanie Eslake
Arts Journalist and Editor, CutCommon (TAS)
Gemma Farrell
Artistic Director of WAYJO/Sessional Lecturer WAAPA (WA)
Antonia Gauci
Engineer, Mixer, Record Producer, Artist (NSW)
Dr Narelle Gee
Former Head Programmer RAGE, PhD QUT (QLD), Author (QLD)
Lucinda Goodwin
Photographer (VIC)
Alison Hams
Music Educator, Singer, Songwriter, Producer, AWMA Humanitarian Winner 2023 (SA)
Sahara Herald
Tour Director/Senior Promoter, Frontier Touring (NSW)
Kristina Kelman
QUT Academic and Study Area Coordinator (Music) (QLD)
Georgia Kennedy
Arts Programs, Healthway (WA)
Peter Kilpatrick
Director Audience & Experience, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TAS)
Michelle Levings *
Artist – GLVES, Social Justice Advocate, Marketing and Communications specialist (QLD)
Dr Sonya Lifschitz
Concert Pianist/Head of Music Creative Practice (UNSW) (NSW)
Emmy Mack
RedHook frontwoman, triple j presenter, Music Feeds editor & founder of UsFest (NSW)
Anusha Matthews
Touring Musical Theatre Head of Sound (VIC)
MusicNSW Program Manager (NSW)
Dr Janet McKay
Flutist, Manager of Emerging Artists Programs (Musica Viva Australia) (QLD)
Kaylie Melville
Co-Artistic Director, Speak Percussion & Rubiks Collective (VIC)
CEO, Support Act (NSW)
Directress – Moon Mother Productions (VIC)
Co-founder and Director of Lemon Tree Music (NSW)
Sam Nester
Faculty, The Juilliard School (NYC)
Faculty, The Manhattan School of Music (NYC)
Artist-in-Residence, New York University, Abu Dhabi (UAE) (QLD)
Lamorna Nightingale
Flautist with Ensemble Offspring, Artistic Director Backstage Music, Educator and Director Fluteworthy Publications (NSW)
Dr Jadey O’Regan
Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music Practice (NSW)
William Pawa-Oui *
Founder of Pawa Haus Creative, Musician, Triple A Murri Country Radio Presenter (QLD)
Dr Peggy Polias
Librarian (ACO) (NSW)
Sonia Smith *
Artist (SA)
Tori Styles
Writer Director (VIC)
Jasmin Tarasin
Film Director (NSW)
Dr Diana Tolmie
QLD Conservatorium (QLD)
Linda Thompson
Artistic Director – CEO, Australian Contemporary Opera Company (ACOCO) (VIC)
Emily Tulloch
Business Development Manager, COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide) and independent musician (SA)
Dr Sam Vallen
Lecturer in Contemporary Creative Practices, QCGU (QLD)
Rosalia Vearing
Head of Community Health and Wellbeing, SSI and BEMAC (QLD)
John Watson
President, Eleven: a music company & John Watson Management (NSW)
Emily-Rose Wills
Former Program Manager | Music at Mona, Arts and Culture | George Town Council (TAS)
* First Nations Jurors