Heading towards our 20 year milestone, ACOCO is filled with gratitude for the incredible journey and moments shared with artists, supporters, stakeholders, partners and audiences.
ACOCO INC. est. 2008 is a registered charity (DGR, TCC). Our charitable purpose is advancing arts, culture and education. ACOCO complies with annual reporting requirements of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 and Australian Charities and NonProfit Commission. ACOCO is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient and Tax Concession Charity with ACNC / ATO Register of Cultural Organisations, for the charitable purpose of Advancing arts and culture and Advancing Education. Donations to Australian Contemporary Opera Fund are tax-deductible.
GOVERNANCE
LL.B. Dip.Crim.
Legal / Arts / Sport historian
Interim Chair 2024 -
Dep Chair 2021 - 2024
Chair 2010-2021
Journalist / Former Member of Parliament / Board Director
Hon Enterprise Professor at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Joined 2024
Artistic Advisor / Conductor
Joined 2016
BMus (Hons Perf) MEL GCert Monash
Founder / Artistic Director / CEO
CPA / Non-Exec Director / GAICD
Treasurer 2022 -
Joined 2022
MMkt / Curator / Founder
Entrepreneurship / Branding
Joined 2023
LLB / Barrister / Arts (English & Theatre Studies)
Joined 2024
Pianist / Artistic Director / Producer
Joined 2025
CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
Artistic Director / Stage Director / Producer
Conductor
Composer - Collaborator (THE INCIDENT)
Pianist - Collaborator (THE INCIDENT)
Stage Director - Artistic Collaborator (USA)
Conductor - Emerging
Phillipa Safey
Pianist - Music Director
Joyce Chahine
Pianist - repetiteur - Emerging
Matthew Nash
Creative Producer - Stage Manager
Ellie Nunan
Stage Director - Assistant
Joseph Noonan
Set Designer
Madeline Nibali
Costume Designer
Amanda Henderson
Design Consultant
ADVISORS
Simon Lewis & Hannah Durack
GoodWolf Partners
Liz Nield OAM
Former Director, External Relations National Portrait Gallery
Philanthropy Director, Opera Australia 1999-2018
Stephanie Exton
CEO, Mornington Peninsula Foundation
Paul Gardner OAM
Sponsorship - Sales & Media
Dr Peter Ellyard
Futurist, Strategy, Global Civic Engagement
Natalie O'Brien AM
CEO, Melbourne Exhibition & Conference Centre
Founding CEO Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Sandra Willis
CEO, Melbourne Recital Centre
Former GM, Opera Queensland and OzOpera
Elizabeth Gillies
CEO, Menzies Foundation
Board, Philanthropy Australia