Support Act welcomes ‘Observers’ to its board

Sony Music executive Bec Adams and APRA AMCOS legal chief Jonathan Carter are named as “Observers” to the board of Support Act.

Announced today (Feb. 21), Adams lands a place on the 2022 Observership Program, a spot that’s typically filled by “young, talented and energetic individuals” to offer them a structured experience on non-profit boards for a 12-month period.

Adams serves as Senior Director of Marketing at Sony Music Australia. Prior to joining the music giant in 2019, she held marketing roles at Warner Music Australia and Columbia Records U.K.

Bec Adams

In a statement, Adams says “it’s an honour” to be offered a place on the Observership Program. “I have so much admiration for the work Support Act does for our industry, artists and crew, and am excited for the year ahead.”

Also attending Support Act board meetings as an Observer is Jonathan Carter, Head of Legal and Corporate Services at APRA AMCOS, a founding member of Support Act.

Carter slots into the role with over 20 years’ experience working in legal and strategy roles across the creative industries, including stints with Sony Music, EMI and the Federal Court of Australia.

Jonathan Carter

The Observership Program was launched in 2014, inspired by similar initiatives in the United States as a way of training and practical experience in not-for-profit board leadership and ongoing networking opportunities to create a passionate and motivated community of future leaders.

These positions, notes Sally Howland, Chair of Support Act, “offer a unique opportunity to develop talent, whilst at the same time adding value to our organisation and enabling experience for the participants. I look forward to working with Jonathan and Bec.”

Established in 1997, Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists and music industry professionals as a result of ill health, physical or mental health problems, or other form of crisis that diminishes their ability to work.

Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic in March 2020, Support Act has allocated more than 15,000 Crisis Relief Grants to music and live performing arts workers, valued at more than $35 million, the organisation noted last month with its launch of an emergency appeal.

The NSW government has since pledged $5 million to Support Act, part of an $85 million emergency package for performing arts and live music.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.