Trio of new directors join Support Act board
Industry non-profit Support Act has announced several changes to its board, with three new directors replacing four outgoing board members.
David Albert, Alethea Beetson and Tom Larkin join as music industry directors, replacing Mark Callaghan, Cath Haridy, Keith Potger and Fifa Riccobono, who have retired following the completion of their terms.
Larkin has spent three decades as a musician and was a founding member of Shihad. He is a conference producer for BIGSOUND, and is the director of VVV MGMT responsible for overseeing the careers of producer Devin Abrams, The VANNS, Eliza & The Delusionals, Woodlock, and Villainy.
“I feel there is no greater area of vulnerability that artists are exposed to than in maintaining their mental health and wellbeing within the music industry,” he said.
“Support Act has the ability and profile to make meaningful change within that dynamic and I would like to contribute as much as I can to help achieve that.”
Beetson is the Artistic Director of Digi Youth Arts and First Nations Producer of BIGSOUND, Yonder, Horizon Festival and Brisbane Street Art Festival.
“I love First Nations music and want to ensure all organisations and spaces cater to the specific needs of my community – from a place that is informed by those communities and does not homogenise the Indigenous experiences in this country,” she said.
Albert is the CEO of Alberts, having been at the family business since 2004. He’s previously served as the co-chair Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Australia and served on the boards of APRA, AMCOS and AMPAL.
Board chair Sally Howland welcomed the new directors in a statement. “I am pleased to be able to report that Support Act is continuing to grow and develop in
response to the needs of the community we serve,” she said.
“Each of our new Directors have different skills, experiences and perspectives, and their input and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to provide crisis relief and mental health support to people in need, and to help create a healthier work environment for all people who are working in the music industry.”
Howland also thanked the outgoing directors, paying particular attending to Callaghan’s work developing the Everyone Band project, and Haridy’s management of crown funding initiative Band Wagon.
“Each of them has contributed in their own unique ways to not only the success of the organisation, but also as diplomats and advocates in how we are perceived in the wider music community,” she said.
The Support Act board also contains John Watson, Sebastian Chase, Linda Courtney, Leah Flanagan, Karin Lines, John O’Donnell and Lynne Small.