WAYJO board members volunteer their time to create new opportunities for our musicians.
A mix of business and arts personnel, the Board actively build relationships with organisations and individuals who can help WAYJO embark on projects such as touring, recording and performing with high profile jazz musicians.
General Manager – Ex-officio
Monique Douglas
Monique has worked in the arts for over 25 years as both an artist and Arts Manager. She began her career as a professional classical ballet dancer, performing throughout Europe with the Bayerisches Staatsoper in Munich, including co-productions with the Bolshoi Ballet in Russia. She also performed with several Australian companies including Queensland Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre, and Tasmanian Classical Ballet.
After retiring from ballet, she studied Arts Management at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and went on to work with a range of organisations including Australian Dance Theatre, Quantum Leap, Youth Ballet WA, and Deckchair Theatre. She later served as Executive Director of Propel Youth Arts WA, where she gained broad experience across art forms and insight into the challenges faced by young and emerging artists.
Monique brings to WAYJO her extensive arts management experience, along with a strong commitment to supporting young artists. She is passionate about fostering opportunities for musicians and championing their contribution to the arts industry and wider community.
Artistic Director – Ex-officio
Gemma Farrell
Gemma Farrell is a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. She holds a Master of Music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Queensland Conservatorium, and is currently a PhD candidate and lecturer in jazz studies at WAAPA.
A WAYJO member from 2003 to 2007, Gemma has been on staff for more than a decade, leading the Pathways Program and Progressions since 2014. Under her leadership, the program was nominated for the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education in 2023 and 2024 alongside WAYJO NC.
In 2024, Gemma received the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for WA State Luminary and the Australian Women in Music Award for Humanitarian Advocacy. That same year, she conducted the previously-named Wednesday Night Orchestra in collaboration with Grammy-winning bassist Linda May Han Oh at the State Theatre Centre.
Gemma is the founder and musical director of the Artemis Orchestra, whose recording The Elephant in the Room won the 2022 WAM Song of the Year (Jazz). She was named Best Brass, String or Woodwind Instrumentalist at the 2020 WAM Awards and has received a further 13 nominations. In 2022, she founded the Femme Composers Ensemble at WAAPA, now the New Standards ensemble, promoting diversity in jazz. She has released nine albums as a leader.
Chair
Annaliese Eames
Annaliese is a Chief Legal & External Affairs Officer with almost 20 years’ experience in corporate law, governance and company secretarial practice. Her career has spanned a range of industries, building strong expertise in legal, compliance and stakeholder engagement.
Alongside her professional work, she is a trained classical musician in piano and pipe organ. Annaliese has been actively involved in the WA music scene for over 20 years, contributing to choirs, orchestras, bands and musical productions. She is currently Director of Music at the Church of the Resurrection, leading a professional choir and engaging the community through music.
Combining legal, governance and musical experience, Annaliese contributes to WAYJO with a strong commitment to supporting young musicians and the continued growth of WA’s music community.
Vice-Chair
Julianne Allan
Julianne (Jules) Allan is Director of Corporate Services at Hollywood Private Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care. Her role includes operational oversight of catering, hotel services, administration, engineering, supply, security, and health and safety across the hospital.
Prior to this, Jules was Regional HR Manager for Ramsay in WA and SA, leading a team supporting the HR and industrial relations needs of more than 6,500 staff across eight facilities. She has also held senior roles with Coca-Cola Amatil, operated her own consultancy business, and lectured at university level.
Alongside her professional career, Jules has extensive governance experience, currently serving as Chair of Friends of Music at Methodist Ladies’ College. She has also been a Director and Deputy Chair of Peoplekind Group and served on her local primary school board as both a member and Chair. Jules brings significant expertise in HR, operational management and governance to WAYJO.
Treasurer
[Vacant]
Board Member
Andrew Fairbairn
Andrew identifies as a person with disability, bringing lived experience, empathy and a strong understanding of inclusion to WAYJO. He contributes a thoughtful communication style, a sense of humour, and a deep commitment to youth development, alongside a strong ability to listen and support others.
He is an active member of the Board’s People and Culture Subcommittee, where he contributes advice in specialised areas and supports initiatives that help staff and young musicians grow and develop.
Andrew joined the WAYJO Board after connecting through the Leadership WA Alumni network. Drawn to the organisation’s culture, mission and people, he saw a strong alignment with his leadership approach and values.
A lifelong musician trained in both classical and jazz, Andrew began his professional career with the Royal Australian Navy at age 15. He holds a BA from WAAPA and has taught across a range of metropolitan schools. His ongoing focus is on leadership and development, particularly in diversity and inclusion, and he is passionate about supporting the next generation of musicians and leaders.
Board Member
Jemma Smoult
Jemma Smoult is a creative producer and arts manager with a strong track record delivering innovative, place-based cultural programs across WA. As Senior Arts and Place Officer at the City of Belmont, she leads strategic initiatives that celebrate local identity, foster community connection, and activate public spaces through arts and storytelling.
Previously Creative Producer for City of Fremantle Festivals, Jemma developed award-nominated works including boodjAR (WA Screen Culture Awards 2023), You’re (Not) Wanjoo, and Kaal Koort-ak. Her portfolio also includes work with Perth Festival, Lost and Found Opera, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, and the City of Stirling, reflecting her strengths in creative direction, project management, and stakeholder engagement.
Jemma has secured and managed significant arts funding, built strong partnerships with cultural institutions, and produced community-led works such as Postcards from Home and The Giant Picture Book Project for Perth Festival.
She holds a Graduate Diploma in Performing Arts (Directing) from NIDA, along with qualifications in education and drama. Her work is grounded in inclusion, collaboration, and cultural resonance, supporting the continued development of creative communities in WA.
Board Member
Lisa Dorizzi-Warnes
Lisa works with North West Shelf Gas in a role spanning compliance and operations, contract administration, and office management. A proud sponsor of WAYJO and the SHOWA University of Music exchange program, her connection with the organisation began in 2024 when she joined the Japan tour, performing at the 35 Years of LNG Supply to Japan event.
She brings more than 35 years of experience in the downstream oil and gas industry, with a background across corporate finance, operations, contract management, governance and compliance, providing a strong commercial and governance foundation.
Lisa joined the WAYJO Board following over a decade on the committee of a junior sports club. She is motivated by opportunities that support sustainable development and positive outcomes for community organisations.
While not formally trained in music, Lisa is a keen supporter of live performance and the arts. She is passionate about helping others and has contributed to a range of community initiatives, including work with the Salvation Army, Homeless Connect, Lifeline, and the Leavers Green Team.
Board Member
Tess Palmyre
Tess is a marketing and communications specialist with a long-standing connection to WAYJO, having performed in the orchestras in 1999 and 2000, including a tour to Sydney during the 2000 Olympics.
With experience across the arts, education, health and not-for-profit sectors, she brings strategic expertise in brand, messaging and audience engagement. Tess is the founder of Brandable, a consultancy focused on inclusive brand strategy and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in communications. Through this work, and her advocacy for women of colour in media and the creative industries, she is passionate about helping organisations better reflect and connect with the communities they serve.
In 2025, Tess was named to the AdNews Champions of Change Power List in recognition of her leadership in the DEI space.
Band Member Representative
Stirling Poh
Stirling Poh is a composer, trumpet player and emerging arts leader currently completing a Bachelor of Music at UWA, studying composition under Professor James Ledger. His musical foundation began through the IMSS program in 2017 and continued through his schooling, where he developed extensive ensemble experience across jazz and orchestral settings. He has since been actively involved with WA Brass, Combined Districts Concert Band, WAYJO and WA Youth Orchestra.
Passionate about music education, artistic excellence and the sustainability of the arts sector, Stirling brings a contemporary emerging-artist perspective to the Board. As Band Member Representative, he contributes to discussions around youth pathways, program innovation and creating meaningful, ongoing opportunities for the next generation of musicians.
