Board Members
The Verve Board is comprised of industry stakeholders from the arts and recreation industry sectors. The Board is the governing body of the organisation and is responsible for the ultimate direction and management of Verve. Current board members include:
Mr. Sam Schwarz (Chair), Independent
Sam brings extensive experience in music, education, theatre and film to his role as Chair of Verve. He has worked on the soundtracks of Elizabeth, Sliding Doors and Shine in various music production roles. His theatre work includes Noises Off (Executive Producer), The Lion King (Company Administrator) and the inaugural Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia. His work in these areas, including his more recently in Human Resources and Learning and Development roles, gives him a great understanding of issues faced by those in the industry.
Ms. Julie Sarll (Deputy Chair), Independent
Julie is currently the Deputy Chair of Verve, and was most recently the Chair of Verve, a position she has had for 7 years. A former CEO of Vicsport, Executive Director for Strategic Sports & Recreation and National Sports Research Coordinator for the Australian Sports Commission, Julie brings a wealth of sport industry experience to Verve. She is currently President of Gymnastics Victoria and also holds Board positions with the Victorian Institute of Sport and the Service Industry Skills Council.
Mr. Terry Noone (Treasurer), Musicians Union Australia
Terry is the Federal Secretary of the Musicians Union of Australia. Terry is a member of the Sector Advisory Committee for the cultural and creative industries at Innovation Business Skills Australia and is the MUA representative on the Music Council of Australia. Additionally Terry is also a talented musician and educator and has expert knowledge about all aspects of the music industry.
Maxwell Binnington, VicSport
Max has a broad background in education, HR , particularly in training and development management, and sport and brings these together in his current role as Sport and Education Manager at vicsport the peak body for state sporting organisations in Victoria. He also has experience in recreation having had responsibility for recreation, arts and community services in two local government authorities spanning 12 years.
Michael Cahill, Sport and Recreation Victoria
Nicholas Cox, YMCA
Nick has over 25 years experience working in the Sport, Recreation and Fitness industries and for the past 16 years has held a number of executive management positions. He has formal qualifications in Physical Education, Facility Management and Business Administration. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and Director of the Australian YMCA Institute of Education and Training. With extensive experience also in the Not for Profit sector Nick has held a number of CEO positions for community based organisations and is currently the Chief Operating Officer of YMCA Australia.
David Hamilton, Live Performance Australia
David has been with the Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA) (now trading as Live Performance Australia (LPA)) for over fifteen years and is responsible for all aspects of delivering high quality, professional timely and effective advice to LPA’s Executive Council and members on all industrial relations, human resources, employee relations, immigration, Occupation Health and Safety and Superannuation issues. David’s role at the LPA is diversified, from advising members on interpretation of award provisions to negotiating agreements on behalf of members and representing members and LPA in all major industrial relations matters. Prior to joining the LPA, David had over ten years industrial relations experience with the Queensland Government before joining the Queensland Performing Arts Centre as Industrial Relations Manager for 5 years, where he gained an insight to the complex industrial relations issues that are a part of the live entertainment industry.
Adrian Marchesani, Ralph Carr Management
Adrian has over twenty years experience in the Music Industry. He founded his own recording and publshing companies specialising in dance music in the ealry ninties, experiencing a great deal of local and international success . He moved on to manage strategy, business and Legal Affairs for the Standard Music Group and Ralph Carr Management. Adrian aslo manages the Bachelor of Business Specialising in Music Busniess At Victoria University.
Christopher McDermott, Arts Victoria
Christopher McDermott is the Manager of Policy and Research at Arts Victoria, the State Government's arts funding and development agency. Prior to this, Christopher worked in the School of Contemporary Arts at Deakin University and at Arts Tasmania.
Kim Montgomery, Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Kim Montgomery has 30 years experience across media education, production and programming for television, exhibition and festivals. She is currently the Content Development Manager at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image where she designs and produces video and multimedia productions for public offer. Her particular interests concern the ways in which emerging technologies offer new possibilities for individuals and communities to explore memories in cultural and educational contexts.
Mrs. Jennifer Schembri-Portelli, Water Exercise Training Service
Jennifer is company director of the Water Exercise Training Service (WETS). She was formerly a physical education teacher and now provides expert knowledge to the Verve Board in the sport, fitness and recreation sectors. With more than 20 years experience as a Aqua Fitness instructor, trainer and educator, she is keen to contribute to the Verve mission, especially in relation to the development of Vocational Education and Training.
Mr. John Terrance Smith, South Yarra Sport, Melbourne High School
John has a Diploma in Typographic Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic and Media Design from the London College of Printing. He moved to Melbourne in 2004 initially working as a Personal Trainer and subsequently as Assistant Manager at South Yarra Sport, Melbourne High School. Currently the Centre Manager, John is involved in writing sports and fitness programs for the school community whilst managing South Yarra Sport for the general community. John currently sits on the Fitness Australia Regional Council for Victoria and Fitness Australia Register of Exercise Professionals Council and is a member of the Australian Army Reserve.
Ms. Genevieve Wearne (CEO and Company Secretary), Verve - Knowledge & Skills
Genevieve has an extensive background in the creative and cultural industries. Past professional experience includes working in the commercial gallery sector, contracting for Melbourne festivals and establishing a design business before moving into employment, education and training. Genevieve managed an Indigenous Employment program prior to joining Verve in 2006 and has since worked on numerous initiatives that contribute to skills development in the culture and recreation sectors.
Lyndel Wischer, Museums Australia Victoria
Lyndel Wischer is a Melbourne based arts manager whose career spans over fifteen years. Lyndel is the only non-Indigenous Australian in the 2010 IAM Graduate group. She has worked primarily in exhibition, collection and event management in both Victoria and New South Wales. Lyndel completed an Arts Degree with Honors at the University Melbourne and Museum Studies at Deakin University. She has held curatorial positions in regional galleries and local governments. A career highlight was taking Australian and Aboriginal contemporary ceramics on tour to Italy, Singapore and Japan and the work of the late Michael Riley to Seoul, South Korea.
