Artistic Director Eugene Ughetti
Eugene Ughetti is the founder and Co-Artistic Director of Speak Percussion as well as the Artistic Director of the Canberra International Music Festival. He is known worldwide as a trailblazer in art music whether as director, composer, performer or conductor.
He has collaborated with iconic figures in new music such as Pierre Boulez, Liza Lim, Steve Reich, and John Zorn.
As a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician Eugene has worked across the globe. He has premiered new concerti with Australian Symphony Orchestras and worked with renowned conductors including Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Sir Andrew Davis, and Valery Gergiev.
Eugene’s compositions have been commissioned by The Australian Ballet, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra the ABC, and other prestigious institutions. His works have been featured at international festivals and venues, including Darmstadt (Germany), Roulette (USA), SONICA (UK), Ruhrtriennale (Germany), Transart (Italy), Lucerne Festival (Switzerland), Noordezon Festival (The Netherlands), SIPFest (Jakarta), National Museum (Singapore), Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK), and George Town Festival (Malaysia).
Eugene has received many prestigious awards, such as the inaugural Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship, the Freedman Award for Classical Music, and the Luminary Art Music Award (organizational). He is a PhD candidate at Monash University, focusing on Signature Pedagogies in Creative Collaboration.
Eugene’s classical training, diverse leadership experience, and adventurous spirit make him a pioneering force in the Australian music scene.
Board of Directors
Genevieve Jacobs AMChair
Genevieve Jacobs has been a journalist for 30 years, working in print and radio including a decade with ABC Radio Canberra. She is group editor for Region Media.
She sits on the Cultural Facilities Corporation board and is also a director of the Conflict Resolution Service and the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture. Genevieve was the inaugural chair of the arts minister’s Creative Council, and inaugural co-chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council. In 2021, Genevieve was made a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) for her services to broadcasting and the community.
Andrea MorrisBoard Member
Andrea is former Head of Advancement at the Australian National University, College of Arts and Social Sciences, and has previously served at universities in the USA, as an Executive Director of a multi-service crisis centre in Maryland, USA; and as a CEO of a homelessness / housing services not-for-profit organisation in Washington, DC, USA. Andrea has a Masters of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science – Social Work.
Liesl CenteneraBoard Member
Liesl is an experienced board director, particularly in the government and not-for-profit sectors, including roles as chair of the Territory Records Advisory Council and Music for Canberra. Prior to doing board work, she had a career spanning 20 years in the community and public sectors, including senior roles in the Commonwealth, ACT and the United Kingdom, across central agencies and line areas of departments. Her particular areas of expertise are governance frameworks, industrial relations and strategic HR.
Liesl holds university degrees in economics and law and is admitted to practice in the ACT Supreme Court. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Professional Associate of the Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis.
Liesl is a long term Canberra resident and is committed to promoting opportunity and diversity within the local community. She is married to federal member for Bean, David Smith MP and has three children.
Michael AllenBoard member - Treasurer
Michael is a chartered accountant and experienced CFO with more than 30 years’ experience in companies including KPMG, Walt Disney International, Opportunity International and Engineers Australia. Most recently he was Executive Director for VHM Limited which listed on the ASX in January 2023.
Kelly CornerVice-Chair
Kelly is a public servant with a parallel career in arts management.
Clive RodgerBoard Member
Clive was Managing Director of a leading economic consultancy firm in Canberra for nearly 20 years, as well as a workplace culture specialist. He is an active community member and volunteers his time with numerous local organisations. Clive has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, and a Master of Letters.
Dan SlossBoard Member
After a 30-year career in the US Navy, Captain Dan Sloss has been an active volunteer in Canberra’s cultural scene including Canberra International Music Festival, the ACT committee for Musica Viva, the Friends of the ANU School of Music and is the founder of Canberra Classical Guitar Society. He is a NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer and was the local brigade Captain for three years.