![MEET THE MUSIC: LETISHA ACKLAND](https://adelaidecityofmusic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/LBerry_Yabaardu-Selects_HighRes-43-1080x675.jpg)
![MEET THE MUSIC: LETISHA ACKLAND](https://adelaidecityofmusic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/LBerry_Yabaardu-Selects_HighRes-43-1080x675.jpg)
by Adelaide UNESCO City Of Music | Feb 21, 2024 | Stories
Adelaide City of Music exists because of the hard work and commitment and enthusiasm of its musicians, music organisations, and institutions. Drawing on strong music foundations, Adelaide is home to world leading artists and expertise. ACOM is committed to celebrating...Amanda Pepe has had a long career in media, communications and management roles with a focus on independent media, arts and not-for-profit organisations.
She has managed a diverse range of print and online publications including editing the iconic Adelaide masthead The Adelaide Review.
She was Publisher of Solstice Media, South Australia’s only independent daily source of online news, InDaily and also worked as a freelance feature writer and sub-editor for a number of publications.
As CEO of The Helpmann Academy, she formed deep links with arts, education and government in South Australia.
Her interest in art and culture stems from a strong personal commitment to the important role they play in enriching society. She has been Deputy Chair of Music SA, inaugural Chair of The Mill, a multi-arts NFP in Adelaide, and a director of CanDo4Kids. She is currently a director of Adelaide (UNESCO) City of Music.
Amanda has broad experience in communicating complex issues in terms that are accessible to all, dealing with all levels of government and the business community and achieving outcomes that benefit all involved.
Janet Giles is an independent and local Councillor, having lived in the southwest of the city for around 10 years. Janet believes that Adelaide has amazing potential to show the world what a liveable, inclusive, creative, and sustainable city looks like. Having been a teacher, a union organiser and leader, and a community campaigner, Janet is now retired. She have extensive experience on committees and boards, working with both state and federal governments.
Janet is a strong believer in working with the community to find solutions to issues. As a member of the City South Association, a member of the Anti-Poverty Network, and a volunteer in homelessness services, she is passionate about spending her time improving the local community from within. She is married and has two grown-up children who work in hospitality.
Jessy Khera is a City of Adelaide councillor having been elected in 2018. A passionate advocate for live music, Jessy initiated the City of Adelaide’s ‘Live music backline incentives scheme’, which assists music venues in providing larger music equipment items for local performing musicians. He is keen on seeing the City of Music designation being utilised to foster Adelaide’s unique music culture to greater advantage for audiences and musicians.
Jessy is a qualified solicitor, having experience working at the regulatory body in New South Wales which investigates conduct allegations against lawyers, as well as working in private legal practice. He is also a member of the City of Adelaide Public Art Round Table.
Graeme is an Australian composer and music educator. He is best known for his orchestral and ballet scores, and is one of the Australia’s leading compositional figures, gaining increasing attention internationally. Currently the Director, Elder Conservatorium of Music The University of Adelaide. He is a Professor of Composition at the University of Adelaide and was awarded a Doctorate of Music from the University in 2002.
He was Chair of the Australia Council Music Board and a member of the Australia Council from 2002 to 2009. In recognition of his contribution to Australian music, Koehne was awarded the Australian Government’s Centenary Medal in 2001 and the Sir Bernard Heinze Award from the University of Melbourne in 2004.
Tracey is a marketing executive and business leader with a focus on media news publishing, public programs and major events. Her expertise is strategic marketing, focusing on audience engagement and growth of large-scale exhibitions, programs and events.
She is currently serving as Council Member of National Museum of Australia, and Member of Board of Directors with Solstice Media.
Andrew Walker has worked in arts and entertainment for over 30 years. His business, Buxton Walker, with partner Michelle Buxton, provides management and administrative services for touring artists, fringe and community events, record labels and festivals. Buxton Walker manages comedians and produces TV through its partnership in Buxstock, and co-owns Ticketing Australia, Head Records (inc Jazzhead) and The Garden of Unearthly Delights. Andrew served as Board Member for AIR for 18 years, on The Melbourne Jazz Fringe Committee for 7 years and helped establish Music Victoria serving as its founding President and later as Treasurer. Andrew is a lover of the diversity of the arts and the stories it only can tell.
Vince has been actively involved in classical music for almost 30 years. He studied piano and musicology at the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, and has held senior arts administration positions around Australia, as well as working as a journalist. Vince is the convenor of the Music Education Roundtable and a member of the Executive Committee of the Arts Industry Council of South Australia, for which he is also Treasurer.
Douglas Gautier AM is the Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival Centre, South Australia’s principal arts venue. He came to the position in 2006, on the back of leading one of the world’s great arts festivals – the Hong Kong Arts Festival – and with an impressive portfolio of international experience across media, tourism and the arts.
Since joining the Adelaide Festival Centre, Douglas has grown audiences and positioned it as a hub for Asian-Australian cultural entertainment. His program-led strategy has included innovations like Adelaide Guitar Festival and OzAsia Festival, and he was a key driver in the bid for Adelaide’s accreditation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Under his tenure the Centre recently completed a redevelopment of the historic Her Majesty’s Theatre – the most significant infrastructure project since it opened in 1973. In 2016, Douglas was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the arts and the community.
Director
Andrew was the co-author of Deloitte’s influential reports on South Australia “Make it Adelaide” and is a passionate advocate for advancement of the South Australian Economy. These reports identified the critical sectors of growth for the state in work that has influenced government policy across many sectors including Arts and Culture.