CBAA Board of Directors

President - Deborah Welch (Radio Adelaide)

Involved in community broadcasting since the mid 1980's, Deb is currently Manager of Radio Adelaide (101.5fm).

Growing up in Leongatha, Victoria, she started her involvement in 1985 as a volunteer at Melbourne's 3CR, which she credits for her lifelong passion for community media. Deb became 3CR's inaugural co-ordinator of women's involvement and began the national program Women on the Line, which has continued for 22 years through a diverse range of women broadcasters.

After roles as Executive Officer of the Victorian Public Broadcasting Association and as a freelance producer for community radio, in Australia and overseas and at the ABC, Deb lectured in Media at Swinburne for three years. During that time she was also a Board member of Melbourne's 3RRR.

Moving to Adelaide in 1992, she produced the international award winning series Ear to the Ground and a range of other radio features before becoming Radio Adelaide's (then 5UV) Training Co-ordinator in 1995. During this period 5UV became the first community station to gain Registered Training Organisation status and the role increased in size and scope to become a key part of the station's activities and revenue.

In 1998 Deb took up the role of Radio Manager at the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Media Association's 4K1G. In 1999 she returned to 5UV to become first Program Manager and then Manager. At the same time Deb was elected by CBAA members to the General Grants Advisory Committee of the Community Broadcasting Foundation, a role she maintained until late 2007.

Deb was a Board member of the CBF from 2000 to 2007 and played a significant role in a wide range of sector activities, from broadcasting and IT technology to sector development and audience research. Deb resigned from the CBF when elected CBAA President in November 2007. She thanks her 16 staff, 500 volunteers and family for their support in taking on this role.

Vice President Radio - John MacInnes (3WAY)

John MacInnes began in community radio in Colac in the mid ‘90s. Retiring to Warrnambool he commenced a jazz program on 3WAY-FM in spring of 1998. He also presents a classical music hour and a morning interview program each week and is studio anchor for live football coverage.

John was elected vice president of 3WAY in 1999 and president in 2000, a position he held for five years. He now holds the position of Secretary and was recently made an honorary life member.

3WAY has no paid staff, so John’s role has included significant managerial elements. He describes 3WAY as a small, cohesive station with a wide diversity of programs, a growing listener base and a positive profile.

In an earlier life John worked all round Australia in the wool industry before becoming a technical teacher and principal. He has had a long involvement in amateur theatre, plays flute, solves cryptic crosswords, reads, enjoys bodysurfing and plays a little golf.

He is committed to efforts to secure additional funding and recognition for the community sector and at the local level he seeks to encourage community development through services provided by the station.

Finance Director - Adrian Basso (3PBS)

Adrian Basso is General Manager of Melbourne's PBS 106.7FM, a station specialising in a diverse assortment of under-represented music - from jazz, gospel and reggae, to punk, asian pop and death metal.

Adrian grew up in Canberra, completing a BA in Accounting before studying music performance at ANU. He pursued a career in the arts but his two qualifications truly became intertwined when in 1998 he joined classical music station 3MBS as its business and development manager. There he caught the radio bug.

At 3MBS Adrian managed the station's finances as it steadily grew to be one of the most financially secure in Australia. He ran events and mini-music festivals, helped the sector navigate the new GST and presented a world-music program.

To lure him away more than six years later, it took a role as Victorian State Manager at AbaF (the Australian Business Arts Foundation). At AbaF, Adrian had the opportunity to work with CEOs and leaders from Top 100 companies on their activities supporting the arts. 

Adrian agreed to return to 3MBS to project manage the fit out of its state-of-the-art, purpose-built digital studios in the magnificent Abbotsford Convent arts precinct. He was looking forward to a break in 2007 when an opportunity presented itself to run PBS - an iconic and much loved institution central to the Melbourne music scene.

In his spare time Adrian enjoys shopping for food, eating food and planning his next meal. He also loves spending time with his patient partner and with their young son who shares Adrian's passion for everything edible.

Board Member - Libby Jamieson (3CR)

Libby Jamieson is the Station Manager of 3CR, based in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Libby has worked in community organisations since 1994 as a volunteer and staff member. Her introduction to Community Radio happened while studying a BA in Social Science at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst; she worked on a program broadcast out of Studio 4, the student radio part of 2MCE FM.

She is the founder of the radio program Dykes on Mics at 3CR and produced the program for nine years from 1995-2004. After serving for 13 years, she recently retired from her position as Training Coordinator at Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, a Telephone Counselling Information and Referral service.

Currently she is involved in the working group of the Zoe Belle Gender Centre, based in Melbourne. The Centre is being set up to support and improve the health and wellbeing of people of all genders.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking, eating, reading cook books and going to the movies. She is the only person she knows without a mobile phone.

Board Member - Phillip Randall (Sydney's Hope 103.2)

Phillip Randall is the CEO of Sydney’s Christian community radio station, 103.2. With more than 30 years' experience in radio broadcasting, Phillip has worked full time in both commercial and community radio.

He began his media career in commercial radio in Albany Western Australia in 1977. After five years as an announcer and copywriter, he accepted the Stations Manager’s position at network station 6BY Bridgetown.

Phillip first got involved in community radio in 1982 when he helped out during a test transmission in Perth at what was to become Sonshine FM. Not long after the station went to air full time in 1988 Phillip left commercial radio to take on the breakfast shift. He was appointed General Manager in 1989.

In late 1999 he moved to Sydney to become CEO of one of Australia’s first community stations, and Australia’s first Christian community station, 2CBA (FM103.2). Since that time the station has undergone major changes to programming, staff and facilities.

From 1999 to 2006 Phillip was President of the Association of Christian Broadcasters, the peak body for Christian broadcasting in Australia, representing licensed community radio stations, aspirant groups and program producers.

Since 2007 he has been involved with the push for a digital radio future for community broadcasting and represented the Sydney digital radio company on the Digital Radio Consultative Group of the CBAA.

Board Member - Georgia Webster (SYN FM)

Georgia began her community media career in Grade Six, when she and a classmate visited 3ONE in Shepparton, talking about their school project on smoking and playing the classic tune "Baby Give It Up".

She's now been hanging around SYN in Melbourne for almost 4 years all up: as a volunteer in different roles and as a staff member since early 2007.

Board Member - Danae Gibson (3JOY)

Enjoying community radio broadcasting since 1991, Danae loves the medium and the diversity of passionate people that drive it.

Even whilst working with the ABC and as a GLBTI community newspaper journo Danae maintained her involvement in Perth¹s RTRFM 92.1.

Since 1992 she has been at various times, a presenter, member of the RTRFM Board of Directors and trainer.

In 2007 she began to train young broadcasters at Central TAFE, helping to build the department from scratch to the point where she could jump the Nullabor and take on the role of GM at JOY 94.9, Australia's only GLBTI station.

When Danae is not focussed on the 'task at hand' you can find her at a cinema, sporting venue or in front of a large TV watching the game. With the radio on.

 

Board Representatives

Youth Representative - Jonathan Brown (Radio Adelaide)

Jonathan has loved community radio since his grandfather took him into Horsham's local studios and gave him access to the station's collection of rude and silly sound effects.

Though Jonathan hasn't carried on his Grandfather's love of show tunes and jazz, he has continued his Grandfather's love of this diverse and wonderful sector.

Jonathan has been volunteering with Radio Adelaide since 2006, working on a wide variety of programmes and projects. Largely his work has focused on coordinating the University of Adelaide's student radio programmes and on events such as Radio Adelaide's Live Music Fest. He has previously worked as an AMRAP music correspondent and on both Womadelaide LIVE! 2007/2008 national broadcasts.

Currently Jonathan hosts a live music programme “The Friday Sessions” on Radio Adelaide's drive time slot “The Range”. Jonathan is committed to a media future that represents Australia's wide range of music, people and cultures.

Womens Representative - Leenie Fabri (3JOY)

Leenie Fabri is a volunteer for 3JOY- Melbourne’s Gay & Lesbian radio station. She also works within the sector as a trainer.

She began her community radio career in a volunteer role at 3NOW. Knowing this was the medium she wanted to pursue she completed further study, eventually moving on to JOY 94.9.

During her time with JOY 94.9 Leenie has held a variety of key volunteer roles including program maker, voice over talent and various roles within the CSA team, including Coordinator. In her most recent role at JOY 94.9 Leenie Fabri was the Program Manager for over 3 years. Her greatest achievements in her time as Program Manager of Australia’s only Gay and Lesbian community radio station were;

  • Increasing female presence on-air by 50%
  • Developing 86 new programs
  • Introducing and increasing inclusive programming with the introduction of an Indigenous program after an absence of 14 years
  • Establishing access to and the creation of all online audio content
  • Engaging community groups through content

Leenie is passionate about Radio (public, community, online, commercial and any new forms to come), audio production, singing and living sustainably with her vegetable garden.