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#
Board Directors
Jake Challenor
Chair
Francesca de Valence
Secretary
Tina Brandle
Board Director
Jacqui Wirth
Board Director
Dave Sleswick
Board Director
Lydia Miller
Board Director
Brett Gibson
Board Director
Ella Petite
Board Director
John Mullen
Board Director
Aaron Dahl
Board Director
![Jake Challenor](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Jake Challenor","slug":"jake-challenor","time":"Chair","description":"<p>Jake Challenor is the CEO and co-founder of Sound Story, Australia\u2019s go-to strategic communications consultancy catering specifically to the creative industries. With over 20 years of experience, Jake co-creates narratives for brands across the music, media, advertising, and technology sectors, utilising his incredible talent for storytelling. Jake owned an independent record label and artist management company prior to returning to the world of journalism and launching Sound Story in 2023. As the former print editor of Rolling Stone Australia, founding editor of variety Australia, and publisher of both The Music Network and Radio Today, Jake has hands-on expertise across a variety of creative sectors, and is able to assess Queensland\u2019s music landscape from an assortment of different viewpoints. <\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Management Committee"},"image":{"slug":"jake-challenor-press-shot-jpg","extension":"jpg","filename":"Jake-Challenor-Press-Shot.jpg"}});)
![Francesca de Valence](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Francesca de Valence","slug":"francesca-de-valence","time":"Secretary","description":"<p>Francesca de Valence is an award-winning songwriter, artist, and founder of I Heart Songwriting Club, a global platform supporting over 1,500 songwriters and facilitating the creation of more than 30,000 songs. With over a decade of experience in independent music business, she specialises in scalable creative development, artist mentoring, and strategic sector growth. Francesca\u2019s songs have been performed and recorded by artists including Vika & Linda and Wendy Matthews, and she co-founded the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival to elevate regional voices. She works extensively across regional Australia with organisations such as APRA AMCOS and Queensland Music Festival (QMF) to strengthen local music ecosystems. Francesca brings strategic thinking, ethical leadership and deep industry insight. Her vision for Queensland\u2019s music industry is a globally connected, inclusive and artist-driven ecosystem that supports long-term career sustainability and creative innovation—leveraging opportunities like the 2032 Brisbane Olympics to build lasting cultural and economic impact.<\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Board Nominee"},"image":{"slug":"francesca-de-valence-95-credit-caroline-attwood-jpg-2","extension":"jpg","filename":"Francesca-de-Valence-95-Credit-Caroline-Attwood.jpg"}});)
![Tina Brandle](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Tina Brandle","slug":"tina-brandle","time":"Board Director ","description":"<p>Tina has more than 25 years' finance experience in Australia and abroad. She holds both a Bachelor of Social Science degree (University of Natal) and is a Fellow Member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Tina has held several senior finance roles predominately in the not-for-profit and public sector space including Financial Controller, Business Analyst, Acting College Manager and Funding and Compliance Coordinator at C&K and Senior Divisional Finance Manager and Devolved Funding Policy Officer at London Borough of Lambeth. <\/p>\n\n<p>Currently Tina works at the University of Queensland as Finance Business Partner to the Institute of Social Science Research, UQP, School of Music, Digital Cultures, Centre for Policy Futures, Institute of Modern Languages and the School of Communication and Arts. Tina is passionate about education, loves travel, live music and the arts and has previously volunteered as treasurer on management committees. <\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Management Committee"},"image":{"slug":"capture-3-png","extension":"PNG","filename":"Capture_3.PNG"}});)
![Jacqui Wirth](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Jacqui Wirth","slug":"jacqui-wirth","time":"Board Director","description":"<p>Jacqui is a values-led governance and culture leader working at the intersection of organisational strategy, inclusion, and live event environments. She chairs QMusic\u2019s People & Culture Committee, leads Safety & Inclusion strategy across QMusic and BIGSOUND, and chairs the QMusic Safety and Diversity Advisory Group. With a background spanning governance, stakeholder engagement, and major event delivery, Jacqui brings a dual lens of strategic clarity and on-the-ground operational insight. She has led key initiatives including QMusic\u2019s Concert Care Program and the Safe Places \u2013 Venue Pilot Program, advancing safer spaces, inclusive practice, and sector-wide cultural transformation.<\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":null,"image":{"slug":"picture-1-2-jpg","extension":"jpg","filename":"Picture-1_2.jpg"}});)
![Dave Sleswick](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Dave Sleswick","slug":"dave-sleswick","time":"Board Director ","description":"<p>Dave Sleswick is a creative producer, cultural strategist, and the Creative Director of The Tivoli Group—custodians of Brisbane\u2019s iconic Tivoli and Princess Theatres, and founder of Double Agency and the Open Season festival.\u202f With a background in performance-making, venue\u202fmanagement, music curation\u202fand festival producing, and a passion for inclusive, future-facing programming, Dave has spent the last\u202ftwo\u202fdecades dedicated to shaping Brisbane\u2019s cultural landscape. Under his leadership, The Tivoli Group has become a home for both emerging and established voices, with a focus on diversity, community impact, and long-term sustainability. Dave has\u202fpreviously\u202fheld\u202froles with Adelaide Festival\u202fCentre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Next Wave\u202fFestival, APAM and was the founding director of Motherboard Productions. His\u202fwork bridges the independent and commercial sectors, championing bold local talent and\u202fbringing\u202fworld-class acts to Brisbane stages.\u202f <\/p>\n\n<p>Dave's\u202fvision is to see Brisbane recognised as one of the world\u2019s great cultural cities—alive with art, risk-taking, innovation, critical thinking and radical possibility. <\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Board Nominee"},"image":{"slug":"dave-sleswick-photo-1-jpg","extension":"jpg","filename":"Dave-Sleswick-Photo-1-.jpg"}});)
![Lydia Miller](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Lydia Miller","slug":"lydia-miller","time":"Board Director ","description":"<p>A KukuYalanji and Waanyi woman from Far North Queensland (based in Cairns), Lydia has a career spanning over 35 years in the arts and cultural sector as a performer, artistic director, producer, administrator, senior executive and advocate. Her professional performing arts career spans theatre, film, television and radio. She was executive director for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts at Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) from 1994-1997 and 2005-2021 spanning some 20 years. Overseeing fundamental changes in research and strategic initiatives, artistic and industry development in the performing, literature and visual art sectors domestically and internationally, driving Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights and protocols, and leading the Australian delegation for international projects such as the Festival of Pacific Arts and Cultures in 1996, 2008, 2012, and 2016; and the Mus\u00e9e du quai Branly project between Australia and France in 2006 and 2013. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lydia has public policy and administration experience in the health, community services and criminal justice sectors, and has held several Council, Board and Committee positions. Currently, she is a creative consultant and cultural producer. <\/p><p><i><\/i><\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Management Committee"},"image":{"slug":"photo-lydia-miller-headshot-photo-credit-stu-spence-jpg","extension":"jpg","filename":"Photo-Lydia-Miller-Headshot-Photo-credit-Stu-Spence-.jpg"}});)
![Brett Gibson](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Brett Gibson\u00a0","slug":"brett-gibson","time":"Board Director","description":"<p>I am excited to be nominated and to express my strong interest in contributing to the QMusic Board. I am the Venue Development Director ANZ at Live Nation, working across Australia and New Zealand to deliver and operate live music venues at every scale. Originally from Rockhampton, I\u2019ve spent more than 25 years actively contributing to the Brisbane and broader Queensland music scene, both as a musician and industry professional. My career has spanned grassroots venues through to landmark projects like The Triffid and Fortitude Music Hall, and now new developments nationally. <\/p><p>Through this work, I\u2019ve developed extensive experience working with government, senior executives, developers and commercial stakeholders to deliver complex cultural infrastructure projects. I\u2019ve also been a long-time supporter of Queensland\u2019s music community through events like BIGSOUND. I\u2019m deeply passionate about Queensland\u2019s music future, and the opportunity to give back to a community that shaped me. <br><\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":null,"image":{"slug":"1754959703323-1-jpeg","extension":"jpeg","filename":"1754959703323-1-.jpeg"}});)
![Ella Petite](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Ella Petite","slug":"elle-petite","time":"Board Director","description":"<p>Ella Petite is a communications, PR and marketing professional with 15+ years\u2019 experience across music, entertainment, culture, tech startups and politics. She spent more than a decade as a music publicist, working across campaigns for artists including Vance Joy, Julia Stone, Violent Soho and DMA'S, while contributing to tours for Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran. <\/p><p>Ella later transitioned into politics as media advisor to David Pocock before moving into startups, leading marketing and communications for<a href=\"https:\/\/innovationbay.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\"> Innovation Bay<\/a>. In 2025, she launched Throughline, a PR, strategic communications and brand partnerships consultancy spanning music, entertainment and culture. Throughline works with artists including Jet, Amy Shark, Vance Joy, Vanessa Amorosi, and more alongside startup partners and hospitality groups.<\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":null,"image":{"slug":"1644553797528-jpeg","extension":"jpeg","filename":"1644553797528.jpeg"}});)
![John Mullen](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"John Mullen","slug":"john-mullen","time":"Board Director ","description":"<p>John is Head of A&R and Executive Producer at Dew Process Records and works with various acts and bands like Mallrat, Old Mervs, Tkay Maidza, Allday, Sly Withers, Tyne-James Organ and many more. He also manages producer and mixer Dylan Adams (DMA\u2019s, West Thebarton, Clews), as well being on the QMusic board and on the Organising Committee for the RecLink Cup, Brisbane. Previous to working at Dew Process, John worked in journalism as well as stints at Universal Music and Mushroom Records. John joined the QMusic management committee in August 2017. \u202f <\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Management Committee"},"image":{"slug":"john-mullen-press-shot-png","extension":"png","filename":"John-Mullen-Press-Shot.png"}});)
![Aaron Dahl](javascript: window.openLineupModal({"title":"Aaron Dahl","slug":"aaron-dahl","time":"Board Director ","description":"<p>Aaron is a lawyer and partner of law firm McCullough Robertson. He has over 18 years' experience working in corporate, commercial, and not-for-profit law. He leads McCullough Robertson's not-for-profit and charity practice and, in that capacity, works with some of Queensland's largest charities and not-for-profit entities particularly in relation to merger advice, governance, compliance and general commercial matters. Aaron is passionate about contemporary and live music, as well as the general arts. He is a former board member of Board Connect Limited, a not-for-profit company that assisted many of Queensland's arts organisations through education and governance advice. Aaron joined the QMusic management committee in June 2021.\u202f <\/p>","twitter_url":null,"instagram_url":null,"facebook_url":null,"youtube_url":null,"tiktok_url":null,"linktree_url":null,"location":null,"category":{"title":"Management Committee"},"image":{"slug":"aaron-dahl-press-shot-2025-jpeg","extension":"jpeg","filename":"Aaron-Dahl-Press-Shot-2025-.jpeg"}});)