Conservatorium Board
Gunnedah Conservatorium is overseen by a Management Committee (board), made up of community members. Board positions include three executive positions (chair, secretary and treasurer) and general committee members. The board meets twice/term. Board members are encouraged to join a sub-committee, which meet and report back to the full board. The sub-committees include Governance, Events and Finance.
Gunnedah Conservatorium holds its AGM in September each year.
For more information contact the Chair or Director through the office 6742 3998 / admin@gunnedahconservatorium.com.
Our Board Members
Susan Wilson | Chair
Susan Wilson brings extensive experience in regional arts, film, communications and advocacy to the role, as well as international development experience in Asia and the Pacific. She has been committed to fostering vibrant and inclusive cultural communities in this region through her work in local government and community development, and on the boards of Arts North West, Gunnedah Conservatorium, Arts Gunnedah and the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society.
Anthony Bishop | Vice-Chair
Anthony Bishop is an experienced executive working in pharmaceutical and diagnostic research and development. He has experience managing companies, sitting on Boards and running complex global projects both in Australia and during the 16 years he lived in South East Asia. Anthony is also a musician and has played in various bands throughout his business career.
Natalie Walters | Secretary
Natalie is a legal specialist in property transactions and studied at a tertiary level Corporations Law, Banking & Financial Institutions Law and Professional Practice, amongst others. She has been a vocational education teacher in variable fields including business management and mentored University students. In addition, her community involvement has seen Natalie serve on many boards/committees. Natalie enjoys the arts and all that music brings to students and their communities.
Treena Daniells | Treasurer
Treena Daniells is an experienced accounting and finance professional with more than 40 years of experience across private practice and local government, including senior roles with Gunnedah Shire Council and accounting firms servicing regional New South Wales. She holds a Master of Professional Accounting and brings extensive expertise in financial management, budgeting, governance, compliance, taxation, business advisory services and organisational administration.
Treena has a long-standing commitment to community organisations, serving as Treasurer and in other executive board positions with many not-for-profit and community groups, including Gunnedah District Development Board, Montessori Preschool, Arts Gunnedah and Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about strong financial governance and helping community organisations build a sustainable future. Outside her professional and volunteer roles, Treena enjoys mandala drawing, mixed media art and travelling.
Rebecca Ryan | Public Officer
Rebecca is passionate about her local community and has demonstrated this through a 15-year plus involvement in community cultural development.
Rebecca completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communication at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, and moved to Gunnedah in 1998 to work as a journalist for the award-winning Namoi Valley Independent. After five years, Rebecca moved into Public Relations, working for leading agency Sefton & Associates in its Gunnedah and Tamworth offices. During this time, Rebecca worked for national clients including Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia, Telstra, and Westpac. The campaign she delivered for Plant Health Australia was awarded a Golden Target Public Relations Institute Award.
Rebecca’s passion has always been community arts, and she was a key volunteer member of the Two Rivers Arts Council in Gunnedah during the late 1990s and early 2000s, producing and directing community theatre and working on Gunnedah’s annual Two Rivers Arts Festival. She is currently Vice-President of Arts North West (the regional arts board). In 2009, Rebecca served as the coordinator of the Two Rivers Arts Council's Circus Programs and first became involved with the Conservatorium as a committee member.
Rebecca commenced work with the Gunnedah Conservatorium in January 2010 following the organisation's acceptance into the NSW Department of Education's Regional Conservatorium Grant Program. Rebecca oversaw the Conservatorium's successful application for triennial funding and has steered the organisation through a period of significant growth, with the organisation's level of activity more than doubling through increased individual tuition, as well as school and community programs, and an annual concert series.
While not a musician, Rebecca has a love of music which was fostered through her experiences at primary and high school. She shares that love and passion at the Conservatorium daily.
Jo-an Cabanas
Jo-an Cabañas (Meura) is an educator, business professional, and community leader passionate about fostering music, the arts, and cultural development in Gunnedah. With a Bachelor of Primary Education from the Philippines and experience in teaching, corporate leadership, business management, and event coordination, she brings a well-rounded skill set to education, administration, and community engagement. Jo-an has been an Education Assistant for over four years and an Admin Assistant at an Accounting Firm, while also pursuing a Diploma in Event Management. Beyond professional roles, she is a creative designer, producing advertising and promotional materials for organizations and businesses, blending creativity with strategic communication. As a mother of three involved in the Gunnedah Conservatorium, she has witnessed the transformative power of music education. She also leads the Filipino Australian community in Gunnedah, organizing cultural and social events that strengthen community ties. With expertise in education, business, event management, and design, Jo-an is eager to contribute leadership and creativity to the Board of the Gunnedah Conservatorium of Music, ensuring continued growth in music education and cultural enrichment.
Jenny MacAulay
Born and raised in and around Gunnedah, Jenny is a Customer Service Representative at TAFE NSW Gunnedah. Jenny holds a Diploma of Business Administration and has been on the Gunnedah Conservatorium board since 2022.
Jenny has been a great supporter of the Gunnedah Conservatorium since 2015. Jenny loves watching students of the Conservatorium show their talents in Eisteddfods in both Gunnedah and Tamworth, Studio concerts, Carols by Candlelight and live theatre performances – such as Chicago, Secret Bridesmaids Business & The Narcissist. COVID We’re Over It being one of her favourite home-grown performances. Jenny believes the art of music and performing is a positive inclusion in any person’s life.
Phoebe Neil
With a background in local Event Management, specifically film projection & theatre operations, art gallery productions and corporate meetings and functions, Phoebe has a deep understanding and commitment to enriching the cultural fabric of the Gunnedah region. She has a Communications degree in Media Production, and currently works tirelessly for the village community in her administration role at Curlewis Public School, a small primary school on the edge of the rich and fertile Liverpool Plains. Some of her volunteer work includes liaising with local Council and other stake holders for community services and cultural events as Secretary of the Curlewis Progress Association.
Phoebe is looking forward to the new challenge of small business ownership as she and her sister embark on an adventure to open a cafe bookshop and bar in the township of Gunnedah, where they hope to further increase opportunities for cultural events, such as live music, performance pieces and visual arts space.
Kate Walshe
Kate Walshe is currently the Leader of Pedagogy and Literacy Coach at St Mary’s College, Gunnedah. With over 20 years of experience as an English and Drama teacher, she has directed and produced numerous student theatrical performances. Kate holds a Bachelor of Media and Communications from UNSW (majoring in Theatre and Film), a Diploma of Education, and a Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services from NIDA.
Having watched her own daughters thrive through the Conservatorium’s workshops, music tuition, and stage productions, Kate is a passionate advocate for regional arts education. She is dedicated to ensuring that regional communities have direct access to vibrant, high-quality cultural experiences and opportunities.