Sophie Loades - President 

Sophie completed a Business Research Masters at QUT in 2018, researching the value co-created between performers, audiences and communities in the performing arts. Professionally Sophie has worked across the events & entertainment sector both across Australia and internationally as a director, manager, coordinator and performer as well as specialising in the delivery and management of community engagement programs. Sophie has worked as both an executive committee member and general committee member for various not for profits in the last few years. 

Sophie has performed with DeepBlue since 2006, and since 2011 has taken on managerial roles as well as directing community engagement and value co-creation activities. In these roles she has co-produced seven DeepBlue SummerSchools for young musicians aged 8-18; tour managed national and international tours (USA, India, Taiwan & Vietnam and across Australia in QLD, NSW, WA & SA); directed and managed DeepBlue at Your School events and co-produced the DeepBlue show “India Stories” which premiered at the Woodford Folk Festival and Brisbane Powerhouse.

From 2012- 2017 she worked for the Queensland University of Technology as an Events Manager for QUT’s large-scale public events, such as Robotronica and CreateX. Sophie also worked for QUT’s Student Engagement designing, developing, managing and facilitating a community engagement program called QMuso. Other positions at QUT have been with the Music and Creative Industries faculties as an events manager, Research Assistant, Auditions panelist and workshop facilitator. 

Toukie Wood - Treasurer

Toukie Wood is an Australian composer, musician, producer and educator. Holding a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Composition from the University of Queensland, Toukie was awarded a place in the 2017 UQ Future Leaders Program for outstanding achievements during her time at UQ. She also performs with DeepBlue on violin and Viola.

Greta Kelly - Secretary

Greta Kelly plays violin and shah kaman in DeepBlue a contemporary string ensemble and Mzaza, a sextet inspired by Mediterranean and Balkan traditions. After studying at The University of Queensland she lived in Prague for four years where she fell in love with Central and Eastern European music. Greta also studied shah kaman in Greece, Turkey and Iran.

Greta co-produced and performed in a number of large scale, multi-arts productions including Song to the Earth (premiering at Bleach* Festival / Commonwealth Games 2018), Our Place (premiering at Queensland Music Festival 2019) and The Birth and Death of Stars (premiering at Brisbane Festival 2020). Greta manages DeepBlue and Mzaza tours nationally and internationally and also delivers music workshops for migrants and refugees.

Anitah Kumar - Board Member

Zinia Chan - Board Member

Australian early-career artist, Zinia Chan’s diverse work as a composer, pianist, arts manager and educator is unified by her ability to immerse audiences of all backgrounds into a world of spellbinding interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Renowned for her cutting edge, community-minded approach, Chan’s extensive work in theatre, film and contemporary music has garnered her opportunities to work with the likes of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mohworks Films, the Grainger Museum, and Science Gallery Melbourne. In 2013, she joined DeepBlue as their pianist and in 2016, welcomed the ensemble's invitation to join as a committee member on the Board.

Zinia Chan is a recipient of the Melbourne Recital Centre (MRC) and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM) Composition Award, facilitating a commission for award-winning chamber ensemble, Syzygy Ensemble to be performed during MRC’s 2021 season. Chan was also awarded the 2020 Australian Music Centre MOMENTUM II Commission (funded by Cinque Arts Management) and in 2016 received the Sonic State Queensland Microfestival Commission (supported by Chris Perren, Luke Jaaniste, Metro Arts). She is the grateful recipient of COVID recovery funding from City of Melbourne (Oceanis Collective Commission, 2020).

Wayne Jennings - Board Member