Board & Staff

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WAYJO board members volunteer their time to create new opportunities for WAYJO musicians. A mix of business and arts personelle, 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.

Artistic Director – Ex-officio

Dr Mace Francis

Mace Francis was acknowledged by the APRA AMCOS and Australian Music Centre Art Music Awards in 2022 as a luminary for his sustained contribution to music in WA

I joined the board while I was still a band member in 2005 in the role of Band Representative. It was this experience and insight into how the organisation functioned, outside of the rehearsal room, that was a contributing factor into my ongoing involvement with WAYJO. I was appointed artistic director in 2008 and for me my involvement with WAYJO is all about the opportunities it gives to young musicians. Seeing eyes light up, huge smiles and jaws drop while performing and working with new music and guest artists is what keeps me involved.

I experienced big band music for the first time, seriously, while playing in WAYJO and that changed the course of my career. Since 2004 I have released 15 albums of original music, mostly with my own big band. I have toured my own band nationally four times and performed internationally with big bands in Austria, Italy, France, and Japan. My time in WAYJO has led to the expansion of the guest artist program, the initiation of the composer in residence program, the release of 5 WAYJO albums and numerous regional and national tours. I am also particularly proud of the pathway programs and international exchange programs that have been happening since 2014. It was an honour to be surprised as the recipient of the WAYJO Hall of Fame in 2018.

General Manager – Ex-officio

Monique Douglas

I have worked in the Arts for over 25 years both as an artist and Arts Manager. I started my 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. I also performed with several ballet companies in Australia including Queensland Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre and Tasmanian Classical Ballet.

After retiring from ballet, I studied Arts Management at the WA Academy of Performing Arts. After graduation I went on to work in Arts Management for a range of arts companies including the Australian Dance Theatre, Quantum Leap, Youth Ballet WA, and Deckchair Theatre. My passion for all arts led me to the position of Executive Director of Propel Youth Arts WA – a multi-faceted arts organization where I gained insight into many art forms and the challenges faced by young and emerging artists in WA.

I bring to WAYJO my skills in arts management, but also my passion and utmost respect for young artists. I want to use my skills to support what our musicians can bring not only to the arts industry but to the wider State, National and International audiences, and communities.

Chair

Simon Durack

I am currently the Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer at Advanced Health Intelligence Ltd. I have a wide range of business experience and have been the Managing Director of Advanced Management Services, Executive Director at MinRex Resources Limited and served as a Council Member of Servite College. I have a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Western Australia.

I have 30 years’ experience as an accredited CPA working in Australia, South East Asia and Europe and over 20 years of Board Experience. I bring a wide range of skills to our WAYJO Board including corporate finance, management consulting, corporate governance, risk management and Business strategy.

I joined the WAYJO Board in December 2020 – just before the pandemic. It was a challenging time for WAYJO but we used the time to develop new strategies, re – structure and get prepared to get back to the music. I am passionate about music and the amazing work WAYJO does not just with our performances but our work in the community. I enjoy seeing the continued growth of WAYJO in terms of output, quality, and audience reach.

Vice Chair

Jon Bennett

I bring to the board commercial, financial, sustainability and governance experience, including twenty plus years with Shell Petroleum in Melbourne, London, The Hague and Pacific Islands. I worked in various finance, commercial, business services and strategy roles. Having served on other NFP and commercial boards, I bring experience and in running effective board meetings and ensuring that WAYJO staff and performers have the board support they deserve.

When my daughter joined the Progressions programme, was I impressed with the fantastic development and support she was given This led to her auditioning while in year 9 and she succeeded. From her time in WAYJO, I saw many shows as she progressed through the bands. I saw her confidence grow and that she was enthusiastic with the programme and the performance opportunities.  When I was asked if I would consider joining the board, the answer was easy.

My most memorable impact on WAYJO was in 2020 when I’d just joined the board. Deep into a Covid lockdown, another director and I led the strategy review. Why waste a good lockdown! The strategy had input from board members, staff, and band members, and was designed to take WAYJO towards the next 40 years. This became the cornerstone of the programmes, organisational changes and developments we are now seeing come to fruition.

Treasurer

Steele Bromley

Steele is currently the General Manager of Finance at Australian Strategic Materials (ASM). He has been a Senior Finance professional and has over 15 years commercial experience including financial reporting, capital asset management, business partnering, taxation, feasibility, risk management, insurance programs, project management, strategy, and systems. Steele brings his vast experience in Finance to WAYJO’s Board and serves as an enthusiastic Treasurer. His passion for jazz and seeing our young musicians flourish and develop at WAYJO’s concerts inspire him.

Secretary

Aimee Doyle

Annika Andrew

I am an in-house lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience providing advice and support to government departments, charitable groups, and private companies. I am currently the Director, Legal Services at Lotterywest.

I support WAYJO’s mission to develop joyful and sustainable opportunities for young people, their families, and their supporters. I encourage our Board and staff to hold effective and efficient discussions, identify risks and opportunities and subsequently reach intended outcomes.  I bring to WAYJO a unique understanding of risk around grant funding and challenges faced by not-for-profits.

I have supported WAYJO as a Board member since 2019 and am the inaugural and ongoing Chair of the People and Culture Sub – Committee. I have assisted WAYJO in technical matters such as constitutional replacement but am particularly proud of my work in developing the culture of the WAYJO team as collaborative and united by a common goal to ensure every musician has a wonderful experience.

Craig Boyle

I am a Partner at Minter Ellison, specialising in Workplace and safety law. I am pleased to be able to contribute my legal skills (e.g., critical thinking, legal analysis and drafting) to the WAYJO Board, with a particular focus on ensuring WAYJO remains compliant with employment, safety, and equal opportunity laws, and is able to strive towards best practice governance in that regard.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to join the WAYJO board because it meant I could contribute to an excellent and dynamic arts organisation that has contributed enormously to the cultural life of Western Australians to the past 40 years. Having been a bandmember back in the early ‘90s I understand firsthand how WAYJO can inspire youth and bring a valuable sense of community for those attuned to jazz music.

I grew up on a farm near York in the decades when the York Jazz Festival presented much local, national and international jazz talent each year. This first exposed me to jazz from an early age.  The year I joined WAYJO as an alto sax player I was also grateful to be funded to join a school music tour through Zimbabwe, during which I encountered the intoxicating rhythms of the local traditional music. I heard the connection with jazz syncopation and polyrhythms – what became an enduring love of jazz was born.

I am delighted to be helping WAYJO’s management team to focus on delivering a top-quality experience for WA’s young jazz musicians by contributing to the establishment and maintenance of a solid governance foundation for everything WAYJO does.

Andrew Fairbairn

I identify as a disabled person. I have an acquired physical disability. I believe that I bring a sense of empathy and understanding of difference to WAYJO that is unique. I bring to the organisation a well-developed communication style, a sense of humour, an understanding of Youth development pathways and a very capable listening ear.

I am proud to be a part of the People and Culture Subcommittee within the Board and contribute suggestions and advice in specialised areas. Finding ways to help the Staff and young people grow and develop to be most rewarding.

I was looking for a Board where I could diversify my skills and contribute my current skills. Through Leadership WA Alumni, I heard that WAYJO was looking for new Board members. I did my research and found the culture, the mission, and the people at WAYJO aligned closely to my leadership skills.

I have been a musician all my life and am trained in both Classical and Jazz. My first professional music job was with the Royal Australian Navy as a 15-year-old. At that age I learned so much about myself, music, working as a team and many other life skills that have served me well to date. I have a BA from WAAPA and have taught in many schools in the metropolitan area. I have become a student of leadership and development in many aspects of life, but particularly in diversity and inclusion for all. I see the young people coming through the WAYJO bands, the Staff and Leadership of the organisation all developing along a similar pathway.

Kate Pass

Kate Pass is an award-winning bassist and composer from Perth, WA. Kate leads her own band “Kohesia Ensemble” which serves as a platform for Kate’s original compositions that explore elements of Persian music in a jazz context. Kohesia Ensemble’s Shahnameh: Songs of the Persian Book of Kings, a production featuring Kate’s compositions, won the Fringe World 2020 Martin Sims Award for “Best new WA work that is destined to succeed on the world stage.” Kate has released 2 albums with Kohesia Ensemble and received the “ABC Fresh Start Fund” Commission to compose a suite of original music for Kohesia Ensemble, which was released in May 2023. Kate’s compositions won 2 WAM Song of the Year awards in 2022 – The Elephant in the Room in the Jazz category and Black Mountainin the Global category.

Kate was commissioned by the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) in 2021 to write a 60-minute set of music, which was performed by a quartet of Kohesia Ensemble musicians in collaboration with a WAYJO Big Band. Kate has performed at an array of festivals and events in Asia, USA, Europe, and Australia with highlights including performing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, WOMADelaide, Singapore Jazz Festival, Penang Island Jazz Festival and Ghent Festival in Belgium. She has toured extensively around Australia with various groups including Kohesia Ensemble.

Kate currently performs regularly with bands such as The WA Jazz Project, Artemis Orchestra, Turiya, Songs for Freedom, and Gemma Farrell Quintet. She also lectures at WAAPA and has also been a tutor for WAYJO’s Progressions (formerly Young Women in Jazz) Program since 2014. Kate received a scholarship to study her Masters of Music at The New School in New York, and will be relocating there in August 2023.

Band Representative – Ex-officio

Taj Johnson

Our friendly, approachable team are on hand to help with any queries you may have.

General Manager
Monique Douglas – monique.douglas@wayjo.com

Artistic Director
Dr Mace Francis – mace.francis@wayjo.com

Business & Development Manager
Emma Franz – businessdevelopment@wayjo.com

Events & Logistics Manager
Laura Halligan – admin@wayjo.com

Marketing Coordinator
To Be Announced – marketing@wayjo.com

Bookkeeper
Amanda Luke – accounts@wayjo.com

Monday Night Orchestra Musical Director
Ricki Malet

Tuesday Night Orchestra Musical Director
Marty Pervan

Wednesday Night Orchestra Musical Director
Dr Mace Francis – mace.francis@wayjo.com

2023 Assistant Musical Director
Tim Newhouse

Progressions Program Coordinator
Gemma Farrell – education@wayjo.com

WAYJO NC Program Coordinator
Jess Herbert – northerncorridor@wayjo.com