Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman has welcomed the appointment of former Sydney Opera House chief financial officer, Natasha Collier as the new Chief Executive Officer of West Australian Music (WAM).
Ms Collier has nearly three decades of experience working in executive roles in Australia’s arts and entertainment sector.
She returns to Perth after spending 21 years on the east coast where she led some of the country’s most iconic brands, including the Big Day Out.
Ms Collier is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and is a member of Women on Boards Australia. She starts her five-year contract with WAM on July 1, 2021.
WAM is the peak industry body for WA’s contemporary music industry and is supported by the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Lotterywest.
It delivers a number of State Government targeted initiatives, including Girls Rock! and BIGSOUND, through the McGowan Government’s Contemporary Music Fund (CMF). The CMF is a $3 million election commitment to support homegrown contemporary musicians and music professionals.
The State Government has recently renewed its commitment to the CMF with another $3 million over the next four years (2021-25) to support the local music industry from the effects of COVID-19. The objectives of the CMF are to:
- capitalise on available opportunities for the contemporary music sector in WA;
- contribute to the development of markets for WA music on a local, national and international scale; and
- ensure a strong representation of musicians and music professionals from Aboriginal, regional, and cultural and gender diverse backgrounds.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
“The appointment of Natasha Collier as the new CEO of WAM heralds an exciting new era for the organisation and for WA’s vibrant contemporary music scene.
“Natasha brings with her a wealth of experience and is held in very high regard in the Eastern States – so we are delighted that she will now champion the best homegrown contemporary music talent here in WA.
“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of former WAM CEO Mike Harris and wish him the best in future endeavours.”
