Luke O’Connor, Former Support Act Manager, Joins UNIFIED (EXCLUSIVE)
Former Support Act mental health professional Luke O’Connor joins UNIFIED Music Group as senior partnerships manager, a newly-created role, TMN can exclusively reveal.
The independent music powerhouse’s latest recruit recently completed a three-year full-time stint with Support Act, the music industry charity, where he served as industry relations and partnership manager and, most recently, national mental health and wellbeing manger.
At UNIFIED, the incoming exec will guide the business’ partnerships with key stakeholders, including government, industry, associations and events, and work closely with the People and Culture team and lead UNIFIED’s Impact Committee.
O’Connor’s appointment demonstrates the group’s “commitment to creating a safe and inclusive workplace culture – one that prioritises the wellbeing of its staff, artists and partners,” reads a statement to TMN.
“We feel very privileged to welcome Luke O’Connor, who joins us with such a wealth of experience in leading important conversations around wellbeing for our industry,” comments chief of staff Michelle Rose.
“This is an exciting role for UNIFIED Music Group, overseeing the group’s industry partnerships that drive our People of UNIFIED strategy to invest in great people, careers and creative talent.”
He’ll also work closely with Rose, COO Matthew Rogers, and CEO Jaddan Comerford.
At Support Act, O’Connor is remembered for his work behind the scenes in changing industry attitudes around workplace mental health and wellbeing.
During his time there, he was co-author and initiator of Support Act’s new Minimum Standards for a Mentally Healthy Music Industry, developed in partnership with industry partners, Safework NSW, and informed by the National Mental Health Commission’s Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces.
His departure was announced in August by Clive Miller, who remarked that O’Connor had “overseen the delivery of our mental health and wellbeing initiatives, providing vital support, health promotion, training and education to people who work in music.”
Also, noted Miller, O’Connor played a “pivotal role in the development of our first study into the mental health and wellbeing of people who work in music, delivered a world-first conference on mental health and wellbeing in music, and initiated the development of a set of minimum standards for a mentally healthy music industry.”
O’Connor admits he’s excited about the “new adventure” with UNIFIED, a “company I’ve long held in high esteem, and whose business objectives of nurturing creative talent is clearly fuelled by a genuine commitment to investing in the wellbeing and futures of its people.”
He continues, “I’m thrilled to play a role in growing UNIFIED’s social and environmental impact, its reputation as an employer of choice and a leader within the business community.”
O’Connor is Rose’s first key hire since her promotion in August, part of a broader realignment of the executive team as the business plans for growth.
Founded by Comerford and based in Melbourne, UNIFIED’s business model spans artist management, recorded music, live events, march, investments and more.