Annette Brown appointed as WollCon’s first female CEO

Annette Brown has become the first female CEO in Wollongong Conservatorium of Music’s more than 50-year history, following the departure of David Francis to the UK.

Her vision includes broadening music education access, expanding development opportunities for young musicians, and building community partnerships — efforts she’s already begun by connecting with Wollongong’s first female Lord Mayor, Tania Brown.

“We were talking about this the other day, and we weren’t so hung up on the fact we were the first females, but we don’t want to be the last,” Annette said.

“We also want to empower many other young people to give it a try, to be a leader.

“It took us both a little while.”

Acknowledging that she now had “a couple of silver highlights”, she said she wanted to share the knowledge she’d gained over the years and inspire others to step up into leadership roles.

“If we can mentor and help other great leaders going forward, aren’t we lucky that we’ve had that opportunity?” she said.

Annette, who grew up in Engadine but regularly visited Wollongong beaches with her family as a child, was brought up with music.

“I had a special music teacher, and that music teacher made me realise that anything was possible,” she said.

It led her to realise that great educators could inspire students to take a chance and try new things.

“So consequently, I did many other things,” she said.

“I’m a ticketed rigger; I’m a train driver; I’ve worked in the building industry,” she said.

“But about 15 years ago, I had that midlife crisis, and I went, ‘Actually, I want to go back to my original training of music education, and I want to see how many young people I can help’.”

Annette has been the international director of the British Federation of Festivals, has held orchestra and ensemble manager positions in Sydney, Canberra, and for the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, and was the operations manager for the Moorambilla Voices.

She was general manager of Australia’s Sydney Eisteddfod for the past three years.

“Each time, it was always this chance that I could give an opportunity to a young person,” she said.

“So when the Wollongong Con job came up, it was like, ‘Wow, this takes in my love of music as well as education.”

She said there were key projects she wanted to focus on that tapped into the community aspect she was so keen to further foster.

“As an educator, we’ve got a really important role to make sure we help the schools, because the schools are struggling to provide music in the classroom,” she said.

“We can also look at our wider community and adults that have retired that still want to make music and take that into nursing homes.”

She said WollCon was an important part of the community as it gave people a place to come together and enjoy making music, or listen to music being made.

“You don’t have to be an elite musician, but you do have to have the chance to access it, be it as a listener, or a maker, or a creator,” she said.

As one of seven children, she said she was fortunate to have parents who encouraged her and her siblings to try different activities.

“Consequently, I think that’s what I want to show parents – let your young person do everything but touch a screen. Have that element of discovery, joy and creativity,” she said.

“Whether you are a musician, performer, parent or volunteer, you have a place here at WollCon and we welcome you with open arms.”

Conservatorium Board chair Nicky Sloan said the board was excited to welcome Annette as the new CEO, especially with her background in community-based and youth performing arts organisations.

Annette is keen to engage with the community and welcomes ideas, suggestions and feedback from musicians and music lovers by contacting WollCon.