Download the Role Descriptions for the JOY Board of Directors.
President: David McCarthy
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I have been an on air presenter for 15 years and am currently the lead host of Saturday Magazine. I have been elected to two three-year terms on the Board. I am now serving my third term as President of JOY 94.9 and as Chair of the Board.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
I’m passionate about the difference that our radio station makes as a queer voice to and for our community. JOY 94.9 has provided a strong supportive voice for our community and especially for those in our community who for whatever reason feel marginalised and discriminated against. JOY’s ability to even just simply be a diverse, positive and affirmative voice in their life is what makes JOY 94.9 so important to me.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
I would love that when I leave the Board of JOY 94.9 that the organisation remains the leader in community broadcasting and engagement with our community. We have an obligation to not just make great, informative, entertaining and inspirational radio but we have to remember that “we are on air, we don’t run on air.” The vigilance over the stations’ finances has been a huge focus for the Board, staff and key volunteers. I want that to continue well after I have left the Board.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
Gosh that’s hard, there are so many. Can I pick a couple of tracks instead? OK: Never Tear Us Apart by INXS and History Repeating by Shirley Bassey and the Propellorheads.
Vice-President: Jed Gilbert
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I started on the front desk about 7 years ago and wanted to get into audio producing. It turns out that was a skill in demand at JOY! I went on to do audio production for JOY and a program. I also started reading breakfast news and joined the national news team, Q-mmunity Network News. I ran for the Board in 2011 and was elected for one year. I ran again in 2012 and was elected for another three years. I’ve served as Treasurer from 2011-2012 and as Vice-President from 2012.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
Currently I’m really passionate about JOY thinking strategically in terms of our sound, our culture, our community leadership and how we reach people who need us. If you think about the need we’re serving: of breaking down isolation, celebrating achievement and providing a voice for the diverse LGBTIQ communities, we are so lucky in Melbourne to have JOY. There is quite a bit of research about how much JOY supports the mental health of our community. If you look around the world you realise JOY is a rare and precious jewel, so I’m passionate about JOY going from strength to strength.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
As Treasurer I was focused on the financial sustainability of the station. As Vice-President I’m focused on JOY engaging with our listeners, members, volunteers, staff, other community members and stakeholders to develop a strong strategic plan that unites us, provides clarity for the organisation and guides us into the future.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
Ouch, this is a hard one. Using a technical measure like the number of songs in my music library, I’d have to say all the pop princesses that only require their first names… Kylie, Janet, Madonna, and Britney. But I’ve listened to the French electro band Air for probably the most hours over my life, so maybe that’s a bit cooler to say!
Secretary: Luke Moon
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I was elected to the Board of JOY in October 2012 and am currently Secretary & Public Officer of JOY Melbourne Inc. and also Chair of the Risk Committee.
I have been a member of JOY since first moving to Melbourne in 2006 and have also been a guest program host on a number of occasions!
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
JOY (to me) is about bridging the gap. It allows us to reach out to people who may be struggling with their sexuality or identity and to help them through (what can be) some challenging times. It also ensures that we as a community have a voice in the mainstream media space and allows us to advocate on behalf of our members.
I am passionate about JOY as it has come from humble beginnings and can grow into this fantastic radio station that we as a community can be proud of; driven by the never ending dedication of our volunteers, and always to better ourselves for our members and our listeners.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
I would like to ensure the longevity of JOY so that future generations of the GLBTIQ community have this fantastic resource. This means forward thinking and planning for the future, while still ensuring that we are meeting all our obligations of the now.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
I love all music, from Mozart and Bach to the Dixie Chicks, Swedish House Mafia and everything in between. Currently on high rotation on my iPod is P!nk, one of (in my opinion) the most amazing artists of our time.
Treasurer: Laurie Cato-Smith
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I joined the Board in October 2012. I am Treasurer and the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. Prior to these roles, I was an ordinary member. I first became a member of JOY in 2007, having enjoyed many years as a listener.
My membership lapsed whilst I was living and working in Sydney for almost two years. I re-joined JOY on my return to Melbourne. I can honestly say how much I missed listening to JOY, especially when in my car in Sydney.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
For me, in many ways JOY normalises being gay. I see the wonderful people at JOY and admire their talents, energy, confidence, dedication and passion for JOY, its members and listeners. When I look around JOY, I realise that we all have one thing in common and that is our sexuality. Seeing such a wonderful group of people dedicating their time and talents for our community enhances my pride and joy in being gay and raises my passion for JOY. I appreciate everything our volunteers and staff do for JOY.
I am also very passionate about the role JOY plays in helping listeners who are challenged by their sexuality to feel more comfortable and accepting of who they are. JOY provides safe, open and honest communication for our community and the world at large. This again normalises who we are in society.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
Past Board Members did a great job in creating a radio station of the quality and standing that JOY is today. I want to work with current Board Members to prepare JOY for future challenges, be they financial, technical, operational or cultural.
JOY needs financial strength to remain relevant and to be envied by other community radio stations. I see my role as critical to achieving this. This requires integrity, professionalism, focus on governance, duty of care and dedication to ensure success.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
I love Tina Turner. Her voice and her energy are amazing. For me she is simply the best!
Director: Anthony Vitale
I am excited to be considered for nomination for membership on the Board of JOY Melbourne. I am a proud member of the GLBTI community, a dedicated listener and member of JOY.
JOY is such an effective conduit for our community’s pride and camaraderie – being a part of this is significant. As a listener, JOY’s increase in appeal, professionalism and success has been very perceptible, especially this year. And so, from the perspective of being part of a business that operates under a viable model and being able to contribute to its growth, would be equally significant.
Currently, I am part of the Executive Management Team at the Adult Parole Board of Victoria. I have previously held management position or operational roles in either policy, clinical or operational environments for the state. I have an interest in victim rights, humane treatment and sentencing models for offenders.
I have an educational background in Psychology and Arts, and am currently in the last year of my Master of Business Administration. It’s not always so serious though – I am a devout Kylie fan. It is an exciting time for your community. I feel that we are on the precipice of major change and that we are managing our progression in this regard with a lot of determination and dignity. JOY’s involvement in driving this change has been significant. I would very much like to contribute to the continuance of our community’s successes.
Director: Kyle Minall
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I first joined JOY back in 2009! It feels forever ago, but originally I came on board just to watch a show being made, which was Generation Next. Not long after I became a fully-fledged volunteer and ended up becoming the host and product of Generation Next.
In 2011 I was asked to join the Special K Breakfast Show and a co-host with Kane and that’s where I stayed!
And because I didn’t want to sleep at all, I ran for the Board at the 2011 AGM and was elected for a 1-year term. After feeling as though I still had some work to do, I ran again in 2012 and was elected for another 3-year term.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
There is a lot that I am passionate about at JOY – Giving a voice to individuals and groups that otherwise don’t have a voice, helping to break down the stereotypes, being a community leader etc. etc., the list goes on. However the one thing about which I’m probably most passionate is making sure that JOY stays on air. There have been plenty of people who have seen the good, the bad and the ugly at this station and I believe for them alone it would be a giant disservice if JOY were to not remain sustainable.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
I would like a better understanding of who is listening to us. Do the presenters on air and the content presented actually represent the people listening at home, in the car or somewhere overseas? We can gain a lot of benefits from ratings and an idea of who listens: we can sell sponsorship more accurately, we can improve programming, we can tailor our membership offerings and we can draw new listeners from untapped or lacking demographics.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
MARCIA HINES, MARCIA HINES, MARCIA HINES! I think everyone knows that already, but the lady is AHHHHmazing.
I’ve travelled all over the country to see her and if anyone says anything negative about her, your JOY membership might just be in jeopardy.
Director: Geoffrey Devine
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I have been a member since 2004 and started volunteering for Office Admin role seven years ago. I had long had a desire to do some on-air presenting on areas about which I am passionate and knowledgeable, but needed to be trained and find the right platform. In 2012, Sammi, Matt and I drafted the idea of Gay News Week: a fast-ish paced news magazine program and undertook the Taste of Radio course at about the same time that we started on air. I am proud of the program that we are putting to air. I wanted to extend my involvement in JOY 94.9 and successfully contested election for the Board in 2012.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
I am passionate about JOY 94.9 developing further as a leading broadcaster nationally in the community and GLBTI media sectors, and believe that the processes and stability in the back-of-house areas are pivotal to achieving this goal. I am also passionate about news and current affairs and believe that coverage of issues affecting our community is important.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
I would like to contribute to the growth and strength of JOY 94.9 by good governance, particularly in the areas of policy and procedure. I have a professional history of managing people and believe this is essential to achieving strength in the media industry and as leaders in the GLBTIQ sector. Our strength is our people. I am committed to a values-based approach to creating stronger organisations. In achieving great broadcasting, community strength and being a volunteer organisation of choice, we need a background of living within our means while aiming to expand our resource base. We need robust internal processes in areas including and broader than financial, which support and develop us in to the future.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
This one is hard for me; I consume music and other culture pretty passively and usually can’t name performers and musicians! I do love music with strong vocals, anything with a saxophone solo (I used to play sax), as well as live theatre. I listen to everything from pop and commercial dance music (did I say with vocals?), to classical music and some jazz.
Director: Trish Kerin
How long have you been associated with JOY 94.9 and in what capacities?
I joined the Board in February 2012, filling a casual vacancy. Later that year I was elected to the Board for a 2-year term and have again filled a casual vacancy in 2013. Prior to my time on the Board I was an ordinary member of JOY for about 3 years. While on the Board I worked to establish both the Risk Management Committee and the Performance Management Committee. I currently Chair the Performance Management Committee.
What are you really passionate about at JOY 94.9?
The work that the station does in reaching out to people in the community and providing them a voice as they struggle to understand and accept themselves. When I question why I do this role, I watch the JOY TV videos and I remember what it is all about for me. I have been lucky with a smooth path in life, but others have not and we can help change that.
What would you like to achieve from your time on the board of JOY 94.9?
For the organisation to be stronger when I leave the board than it was when I joined it, both financially and culturally. Both of these aspects are vital for long-term sustainability, which is important to continue to be able to provide the voice for our community.
We are a radio station, so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?
My all time favourite is Deborah Conway. My partner and I were fortunate enough to have her perform live at our commitment ceremony, making an already special day absolutely awesome!
Director: Greg Adkins
My nomination combines a deep passion for community radio with extensive experience in governance within and outside the GLBT community. A unique blend of interests and professional/life experience will complement the existing board skillset and more importantly contribute to the board becoming engaged with and representing of its membership and the GLBT community in which we live.
My community radio interest started as a member of ECB FM in the 1980s and led me to first join JOY in the mid-1990s while working at the VAC/GMHC. Flash forward to today and JOY is an important member of my extended family. I volunteer on Detours, support other programs through my links to other GLBT organisations, such as the Anti-Violence Project, and assist us to engage with broad community orgs who support GLBT individuals.
I have high-level governance and strong risk mitigation skills and offer a deep understanding of the need for role clarity when balancing JOY’s governance and operational arms. My communications style is open and inclusive and if elected I seek to continue the calming role that can be missed when we seek to incorporate everyone’s interests within the mix. Strong board leadership is key to how JOY progresses and develops as a key GLBT community organisation.
Current professional experience includes capacity building & social inclusion development, counselling victims of crime and leading the AVP’s operations. Previous roles cover the disability health sector, community health (Team Manager at ISCHS’s “Hustling to Health” program & clinic for sex workers/injecting drug users), sexual assault counsellor advocate (SECASA), ministerial adviser (Specialist Child and Family Services/Local Government) & roles in federal & local government.
All pictures courtesy of Tim Lennox.