Alumni Profile: David Vance

David was one of the first students to enrol in Wollongong Conservatorium in 1972, studying piano with Nan Price. In those early years, an active student cohort welcomed the opportunity to participate in chamber and vocal ensembles, in which he discovered the enjoyment of performing with others rather than as a soloist.

Completing an honours degree in English literature in 1974 at the Wollongong University College, David went on to study for a BMus (Hons) at Sydney University, graduating in 1978. These qualifications in turn led to casual teaching appointments at the University of Wollongong, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and Sydney University. In 1982 he was appointed as the Music Development Officer at the University of Wollongong where he was responsible for promoting musical activities on campus, extending these into the local region through community engagement. This brief allowed him to further two initiatives established in 1978: the first was the direction of several children’s operas which linked Conservatorium and University students and staff with children from local schools to give performances of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, the world premiere of Anne Boyd’s opera, The Little Mermaid, and later the commissioning of The Piper’s Promise from composer and colleague Andrew Ford.

The second was the (Wollongong) University Singers, a chamber choir of some twenty voices which subsequently gave numerous performances of a cappella repertoire over the next twenty five years. Collaborations with the Illawarra Choral Society and the BHPYO saw him conduct several major choral orchestral works including Haydn’s The Creation, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

David Vance

His close association with the Wollongong Conservatorium continued in several roles: as a piano teacher, a Conservatorium Board member, and conductor of the then BHP Youth Orchestra (1987-1996) with which he presented a wide ranging repertoire including music by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Vaughan Williams and Stravinsky.

An Italian Government Scholarship took him to the Accademia Chigiana in Siena for studies in orchestral conducting. In 1996, he furthered his interest in vocal accompaniment with private studies in Austria and England, returning to work with vocal students at Wollongong University and the Wollongong Conservatorium.

Since his retirement from the University of Wollongong in 2012 as Associate Professor and Sub Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, he has maintained a busy schedule as an accompanist and chamber musician. He occasionally performs keyboard / continuo parts for Steel City Strings for whom he writes program annotations.

He is currently the accompanist for the Illawarra Choral Society, con voci, and the Wollongong Conservatorium Chamber Choir. David recently joined Conservatorium colleagues Suzanne Cowan Cecilia Bersée to form Zefiro, a trio for flute, violin and piano.

Sue is an accomplished and seasoned manager with a wealth of experience in government administration and community service delivery. With a strong background in strategic planning, organisational development, community engagement, project planning, and building strategic partnerships, Sue has consistently demonstrated her leadership and expertise and brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business focusing on Local Government and Creative Industries from the University of Wollongong, reflecting her commitment to public service and innovative leadership. Sue’s extensive career and dedication to community and social service make her a valuable asset, offering both strategic insight and practical experience to drive meaningful impact.

Anne has been a member of the Wollcon Board since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from UNSW. She is an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an accredited Mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. She has taught family law and other subjects at Wollongong University.

For a number of years she has been a subscriber to the Australian Chamber Orchestra which regularly performs in Wollongong . She has been passionate about music and in particular music education to children and adults.

Jake has worked in the disability sector for 24 years- 17 of these with Interchange and 7 years as their CEO. Jake is passionate about inclusion and equality for both people with disability and their carers.

He holds an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, as well as completing Diploma’s in Case Management, Community Services Coordination and the AICD Company Directors Course.

Jake is also a committee member on the International Short Breaks Association Board and has been a Director on the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Board since 2022.

Wayne is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as being a qualified company secretary and accountant with over 35 years experience in banking and finance. He performed for nine of those years as Chief Executive of IMB Ltd, and the preceding seven years as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer, also with IMB. Wayne’s primary expertise is in the areas of governance, management, accounting, risk management and banking and finance. He has spent his whole life living in the Illawarra and is passionate about ensuring the Illawarra can provide the best possible opportunities and lifestyle for its residents. In 2024 Wayne was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the community.

Dr Terumi Narushima is a senior lecturer and Music Discipline Leader at the University of Wollongong. She is a composer, performer and sound designer specialising in microtonal tuning systems. Her works include Tritriadic Chimes, a sound installation for LA MicroFest, Hidden Sidetracks, a composition for custom-made instruments premiered by Ensemble Offspring at Sydney Opera House, and a project to build microtonal flutes using 3D printing. She has worked on theatre collaborations which have been presented nationally and internationally, including Yasukichi Murakami: Through a Distant Lens, Lost in Shanghai, and The Story of Chi. She performs with microtonal ensemble Clocks and Clouds, and her book Microtonality and the Tuning Systems of Erv Wilson is published by Routledge.

Nicky is the CEO of Community Industry Group. She has degrees in Dementia Care, Community & Environment and Marketing, and a Grad Dip in Project Management. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an Honorary Fellow of UOW. In addition to Chairing the WollCon Board, she is Deputy Chair of the Regional Development Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Board and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Warrigal, a large not-for-profit specialising in the provision of services for older people.

Her corporate governance and strategy experience extends through a 20+ year career on boards in the corporate, government and NFP sectors.