Our Board is made up of representatives from our community together with representatives from the Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University. It is responsible for the oversight of our Conservatorium and for the development, implementation and monitoring of our policies and is accountable for these to statutory bodies and government agencies. It sets the budget for our organisation, and is ultimately responsible for our mission and strategic directions. It meets regularly and consults widely with our CEO as well as staff and our community. Our vision is outlined very clearly in our Strategic Plan (Click to download)
MR Manuel donebus - CHAIR
Manuel has an Economics Degree from ANU and joins the Conservatorium board with 28 years of experience in the property development and management industry; successfully managing many small to very large projects in Wagga Wagga. His two children are both students of the RCM and music is an integral part of the family’s daily life.
Manuel’s is a tragic sports lover with a particular interest in football (soccer), where he coaches a local junior team. Other interests include gardening and spending time with family.
DR ANDREW WALLACE - Vice Chair
Andrew was previously the Chair of our Conservatorium for over fifteen years. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University, with interests in the impacts of climate change, environmental sustainability, history, and education. He has a real passion for both music making and education and has guided the Conservatorium through the massive growth and changes at the RCM, including the development of our new Conservatorium in Simmons Street.
Andrew has a great love for his family and has a wide range of interests including music making as well as in photography, swimming, cycling and just about anything made by Apple.
Mr robert fry - TREASURER - COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
Rob is a Chartered Accountant and director with local accounting firm Adams Kenneally White. Whether in sport or business, Rob has a real passion for the region and through volunteering and work loves helping local businesses and organisations navigate financial hurdles and thrive in their own right. Outside of work Rob enjoys spending time exploring the region with his wife and his daughter and can still be found on the football (soccer) pitch every Sunday.
Rob has experience on the board of several not-for-profit local organisations including South Wagga Apex, the Riverina Ag Network and the Wagga City Wanderers football club.
Councillor Amelia Parkins - Representative of the Mayor of Wagga Wagga
Qualifications: B. Design (Architecture), M. Architecture, M. Heritage Conservation
Amelia has Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Architecture and Heritage Conservation from The University of Sydney. She joined the Conservatorium Board as a representative of Wagga Wagga City Council in 2022.
Music is an integral part of Amelia's life since she started piano lessons at age four. She went on to experiment playing both the trombone and oboe but her real love remains the piano. Having had first hand experience of the benefits of music education Amelia is passionate about making music accessible to as many people in the community as possible.
Amelia enjoys playing team sports, particularly hockey, and going bushwalking with her family. Amelia believes the opportunity to be involved in the community through arts and sport is an important balance to work and life.
Dr Malcom Allen - Community Representative
Malcolm joined the Conservatorium Board in 2014. Prior to that, he was an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University, with a background in bio-organic chemistry gained at Manchester University. His interest in music arrived late in life and, now in retirement, is a student of piano at the Conservatorium and, together with his wife Helen, a part scholarship sponsor at the Conservatorium.
He enjoys walking, running, pilates and, when learning music allows, reading about mathematics, physics and astronomy.
Mr John Ireland - community representative
John joined the Conservatorium Board in 2022 as a community representative. John is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, an Accredited Specialist Mediation and Personal Injury and Arbitrator NSW District Court. He is also a Mediator to Workers Compensation Commission.
Mrs Kerry Barker - EDUCATION representative
Kerry joined the Conservatorium Board in 2020 as our educational representative.