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Chiyan Lai

Piano

What do you teach at WollCon?

Piano (for all ages).

What genres do you teach?

Classical.

What is it that you love about teaching music – particularly at Wollongong Conservatorium?

I think Music is a beautiful language that is difficult to be replaced. It is also about humanity. 

Please share a particular career highlight and why it’s special to you.

For me, I do not have a particular career highlight but there are two stories in my music career that sit in my heart. I remembered this happened in one of my volunteering experiences at SAN (Sydney Adventist Hospital). I thought it was just going to be one of those normal piano playing days and I begin with J.S.Bach’s Prelude in C major. After I finished a patient walked towards me with tears in her eyes. The power of music brought comfort to her during her difficult time. I was touched by this occasion.
The other story was when teaching one of my students who had lots of unpleasant moments in his journey of learning music. Initially, he showed little interest in piano class. I communicated and worked with him slowly, week by week, taking small steps and one goal at a time. He eventually brought his favourite music to the class and asked me to assist him in learning the piece. This is one of the moments that I was truly happy for him and I felt rewarded as his teacher.

What’s one piece of music that you’d recommend people listen to?

There are so many different pieces to listen to. Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Bartók, Ligeti, Kurtág, Yuyuma and many more. But if I really need to recommend a work, I would probably be going back to the roots: J.S. Bach – The Two-Part Inventions. I picked the following video as the young performers at the harpsichord speak volumes on their learning journey in music as well as their teachers who teach and nurture the musical seeds. 

Positive Change Through Music

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Dr Sue Savage

Director

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 Mowbray

Director

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 Pearson

Director

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 Morris

Director

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

Deputy Chair

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 Sloan

Chair

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.