Staff
Joe Alexander, CEO (he/him)
With over fifteen years experience in the music industry, Joe is founder and CEO of Music in Exile. He has worked as a touring musician for many years, frequently travelling internationally and facilitating recording, collaborative development and touring projects. He is passionate about supporting artists to realise their goals, and loves learning from and collaborating with others. Joe is also Founder and Director of Bedroom Suck Records, an independent record label with a long history of supporting innovative and experimental artists; and Great Southern Land Touring, a project aimed at bringing contemporary music to regional and remote locations around Australia.
Sia Ahmad, Program Manager, Artist Accelerator Program (she/her)
Sia Ahmad is a songwriter, artist, improviser, curator and facilitator. For two decades, she has brought an outsider’s eye and DIY punk aesthetic to the way she brings communities together – be it through creative collaboration, eclectic programming or curating the hellosQuare label. An Art Music Awards winner and Peggy Glanville-Hicks Address lecturer, Sia has released a wide spectrum of original music around the world alongside her commissioned work in sound design, installation pieces and contemporary classical composition. Alongside her work for Music In Exile, Sia is also Director for MusicACT. She is a Board Director for the Australian Music Centre and has previous board experience with the Australian Art Orchestra and Girls Rock! Canberra. Between 2018 and 2021, she was a member on both the Ministers’ Creative Council and LGBTIQ Ministerial Advisory Council in the ACT.
Liam Alexander, Events & Partnerships Coordinator (he/him)
Liam Alexander currently co-directs ventures including rooftop bar Runner Up, festival When Pigs Fly, club night Lucid, and multidisciplinary creative arts space Stay Soft Studio. His experience in music is predominantly as an events curator and venue programmer, though he also operates as a creative business owner and DJ in Melbourne. He is one half of DJ duo 6am at the Garage, and took the reins for the final four years as Venue Booker for Melbourne nightclub Lounge from 2015-2019.
Board
Roya Azadi
Roya Azadi is an Iranian-Kiwi innovation and social impact leader. Roya has worked across the commercial, philanthropic and government sectors as well as with organisations like World Vision, Burnet Institute and the United Nations. Her work is focused on designing products, services and organisations that can be a little more impactful today, than yesterday.
Luke de Zilva, Chairperson
Luke is an arts, not-for-profit and charity leader having worked with some of Australia’s most respected creative and purpose-based organisations, including Sydney Opera House, the Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Writers’ Festival, Tranby Aboriginal Cooperative, Sydney Festival, Red Room Poetry, Overland, Carriageworks and Creative Australia amongst others. Luke is the Engagement Director at Indigenous arts company Awesome Black and the Awesome Black Foundation, the Deputy Director & Community Liaison for the Indigenous youth charity Life for Koori Kids, a musician, curator, broadcaster for Sydney’s fbi.radio, and arts access advocate.
Charlotte Galleguillos
Charlotte Galleguillos is Deputy Director of the Biennale of Sydney. She has spent her career championing inclusive programming throughout New South Wales, including at the Australian Museum where she was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Museum’s Reconciliation Action Plan, and at Carriageworks where she led initiatives for arts education, training and employment pathways for Indigenous youth. Charlotte is a Board Member of the Sheila Foundation and a member of the National Art School’s First People’s Advisory Group.
Darren Lesaguis
Darren Lesaguis is of Visayan and Tagalog descent. He is the former Head of Programming and Music at fbi.radio, has ten years of experience working in the music industry, and is a practising musician. Darren is interested in the ways grassroots-run programs can create interconnectedness amongst creatives and their communities.
Isabelle Tolhurst, Secretary
Isabelle is a qualified journalist with experience in communications for the arts, not-for-profit, and government sectors. She is a current Councillor for the Borough of Queenscliffe, having served twice as Mayor. She is also an affiliate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
