QMusic announces new Executive Officer

Queensland peak music association QMusic’s new Executive Officer is an executive who has worked with local government but with a strong music and community background.

Joel Edmondson takes over in January, a month after incumbent Denise Foley steps down. Foley steered the association for the past ten years of strong growth including the rise of Big Sound as the major music industry conference in the country.

QMusic President, Michael Crutcher, said, “Joel’s corporate knowledge and his obvious passion for music leave him well-placed to continue QMusic’s growth into its third decade. We are excited about the skills and vision that Joel will bring to the job in his return to Brisbane.”

Edmondson is currently based in Melbourne, having worked at the City of Whittlesea for the past five years. This year he took over as its Manager of People and Culture, where he transformed organisational culture, provided leadership of its HRstrategy and contributed to decision-making at the executive level.

In his early days in Brisbane, he was a musician, and also founded the live music venue Hangar in Red Hill and its artist-run label LoFly Records. He completed undergraduate studies in Film and Cultural Studies at Griffith University and followed with a Masters in Music in the Community at the University of Edinburgh.

Edmondson also won numerous awards for his design of innovative musical instruments for children with developmental disorders.

He said: “I am excited and deeply grateful to have been given this opportunity to make a significant contribution to the continuing evolution of Queensland's cultural landscape. The Executive Officer role at QMusic is a rare chance for me to bring together my previous experience in the music industry, community music development, and strategic organisational change.”