BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Horwell

PRESIDENT

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

I joined JOY in 2016. I immediately started as panel operator on Saturday Magazine, and I have also hosted JOY Weekend Breakfast for 7 years. In August 2024, I hosted my last breakfast show, but I am still part of the Saturday Magazine team. I joined the JOY Board in November 2022 and became President and Board Chair in July 2024.

What are you passionate about at JOY, and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

I really enjoy hearing the plethora of beautiful personal stories that we are lucky to broadcast at JOY. I am a big music fan and especially like supporting young queer artists. I would like to think I can help JOY reach more people, carry on giving a mouthpiece to even more members of our diverse community to tell their own stories, and continue to support new queer and Australian music artists.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency, so we have to ask: who is your favourite performer?

Oh my goodness – we have so many talented passionate program makers, producers and presenters here at JOY. I guess I am biased toward Saturday Mornings, so I would have to say Joel and Dave really because they are the only broadcast show I know who actively supports Jennifers! Haha – if you know you know!

Madeleine Swain

VICE-PRESIDENT

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

I became aware of JOY when it began as a radio station but in those far-off days I had much more hands-on associations with sister media organisations the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Bent TV. Over the years I’ve guested on programs, mostly at the invitation of long-time JOY presenter Gillian Bartlett, but a greater involvement is something I’m greatly anticipating.

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

The ability of JOY”s radio frequency to reach every little spot in the most far-flung places and bring a voice and a connection to those who may feel entirely isolated is an incredibly powerful thing – JOY builds and celebrates community and all I can hope to do is help facilitate that in any way possible, while being profoundly committed to ensuring that the station is a viable, sustainable and always ethical organisation that can thrive now and for the long-term future.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

My tastes range from the untouchable interpreters of the great American songbook – Fred Astaire, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Judy Garland with special affection for the likes of Dietrich, Piaf and Doris Day etc – to (slightly) more modern performers like Bowie, Cohen, Dylan, kd lang and Blondie. In 2014 I flew to England purely to see Kate Bush at Hammersmith (having also seen her in 1979), although recently I’ve been listening to more classical music than anything. Ravel is a particular favourite.

John Wintle

SECRETARY

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

My journey at JOY Media began in 2011 as an Office Administrator, managing the front desk for Bent Notes. Over time, I’ve embraced various roles, from presenting and podcasting to producing and conducting on-the-street interviews during the Pride March. I’ve also been involved in coordinating JOY’s music. Now, I’m honoured to serve on our beloved JOY Media board.

What are you passionate about at JOY, and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

My passion lies in fortifying JOY’s resilience against external pressures, particularly by diversifying our revenue sources in JOY Gigs and streaming media. JOY has a bright and wonderful future; this strategic approach will get us there.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency, so we have to ask: who is your favourite performer?

Oh, please don’t make me choose! But if I had to pick, my favourite presenters would be John Von Ahlen and Costa Lakoumentas from Neon Nights. Listening to their podcast helped me get through the COVID shutdown in Melbourne.

Tim Anderson

TREASURER

Nevena Spirovska

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

I’ve been a volunteer and presenter for JOY for over a decade. I used to work at the front desk when our station was on Bourke Street many years ago and enjoyed the energy of the place. It’s a privilege to serve the organisation as a board member and co-host of Saturday Magazine.

What are you passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

I’m enthusiastic about our ability to provide a platform for a variety of perspectives and ideas in our communities, as well as to serve as a connection point for so many listeners. During my time on the Board, I want JOY to expand its national reach and engage communities across the continent.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

Nevena and Macca on Saturday Magazine, of course!

Pete Holmes

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY and in what capacities?

My passion for JOY started back in the early 90s and continues today. I was an avid listener and supporter of JOY 94.9 through its early test broadcast period, and JOY was a pivotal part of my coming out process. I became a member in 1994 (No. 334) and a volunteer in 2017 after my retirement from paid work. I completed the JOY radio course at that time and have been volunteering in JOY’s production team as Podcast Coordinator and a podcaster since then. I love JOY’s daytime sound and am also a daytime presenter on Melbourne’s Most Uplifting Music Mix and a member of JOY’s Outside Broadcast Team.

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

The diversity of the JOY community makes me passionate about JOY as a whole. We are an amazing and unique part of the LGBTIQA+ community in Melbourne, Australia and the world through our radio broadcasts, podcasts, web streams and now through video content via our connection with Bent TV. I love the diversity of our specialist programming and our uplifting daytime sound. As a board member, I’m working toward creating a financially secure JOY, a successful relocation to the Victorian Pride Centre, enhancing JOY’s role as a powerful advocate for the LGBTIQA+ community and to expand the platforms for our JOY content – broadcast, streaming, podcasts, DAB, web, video, social media, voice assistants plus whatever else comes along in the future.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

As a presenter on JOY Daytimes, you’ve probably guessed that I love pop music from any era. Having headed out to many rock concerts in the 70s and 80s (Joe Cocker, Slade, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Tina Turner plus many more) and Melbourne’s Shed 14 parties and many Mardi Gras parties back in the 90s and 00s, I guess, anything that’s uplifting and has a bit of a dance beat will get me up on my feet for a dance. But I kinda love almost all music including pop, rock, classical, musical theatre, folk, electronic, house, deep house, chill, techno, trance, vocal trance, and I’m open to any new genre that may come along! If pushed for my favourite artist of all time it would be (drumroll…) Pink Floyd. Their music uplifts and has a depth that still challenges me after all these years of listening to it.

Ally Doyle

DIRECTOR

David "Macca" McCarthy

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

I have been a JOY member for over 20 years. I have been on air for 19 years and previously served on the Board for 4 years of which 3.5 years was as President.

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

I am passionate about the voice it gives our community, the diversity of programming, the quality of the programming and talent. I am going to work as hard as I can to make JOY financially stable, engaged with its members and community and to be the place we all want it to be.

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

I don’t have a fave artist, but if I had to chose some music for a desert island it would likely be jazz.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Horwell

PRESIDENT

Madeleine Swain

VICE-PRESIDENT

John Wintle

SECRETARY

Tim Anderson

TREASURER

Nevena Spirovska

DIRECTOR

Pete Holmes

DIRECTOR

Ally Doyle

DIRECTOR

David "Macca" McCarthy

DIRECTOR

GET SOME JOY IN YOUR INBOX

Paul Horwell

PRESIDENT

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

What are you passionate about at JOY, and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency, so we have to ask: who is your favourite performer?

Madeleine Swain

VICE-PRESIDENT

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

John Wintle

SECRETARY

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

What are you passionate about at JOY, and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency, so we have to ask: who is your favourite performer?

Tim Anderson

TREASURER

Nevena Spirovska

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

What are you passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

Pete Holmes

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY and in what capacities?

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

Ally Doyle

DIRECTOR

David "Macca" McCarthy

DIRECTOR

How long have you been associated with JOY Media and in what capacities?

What are you really passionate about at JOY and what would you like to achieve during your time on the Board?

Our biggest content channel is our 94.9 radio frequency so we have to ask, who is your favourite performer?

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