David Francis is the Chief Executive Officer at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

David joined WollCon in May 2021 after leading renowned regional arts organisation Four Winds Concerts Inc – home of the Four Winds Festival – as Executive Director since 2015. David’s skills not only lie in music programming but in organisational change and development in the arts, both in the UK and Australia. His recent work at Four Winds in Bermagui transformed the organisation from a biennial music Festival to a thriving, year-round arts organisation.

He came to Australia in 2014 as GM of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. David led a turnaround for this important choral organisation who recently celebrated their 100th birthday.

David has held several senior positions in the arts in the UK including Director of Arts at Dartington and Senior Producer for Arts Council England during which time he developed Sound and Music – the UK’s peak body for art music. He also developed and launched The PRS For Music Foundation, now the UKs largest funder for new music.

He is a member of the Create NSW Multi Arts Advisory Board and serves as a Board Director for Music in the Regions and the Australian Music Centre.

David studied music and undertook Post Graduate Vocal Training at the Guildhall School of Music in London. He holds a ‘One Planet’ MBA from Exeter Business School. Until moving to Wollongong David was Music Director and Conductor of Spirit Allegro – a community chamber choir based in Pambula on the Far South Coast of NSW.