Susan Robinson

Piano

What do you teach at the Con?

Piano.

What genres do you teach?

Mainly classical.

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

I love sharing my passion for music with young children who are just beginning their musical lives. Equally, I enjoy refining the musical skills of more advanced players as their love for music grows. We are so lucky at Gleniffer Brae to learn music in such beautiful and inspiring surroundings.

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

My career highlight was an early one – playing a piano solo in the Sydney Opera House as a teenager.
It was special to me because I was the first NSW public school student ever selected to play a solo in the annual public schools’ concert series. As a teacher, the biggest highlights have been witnessing the thrill of students who have worked hard and finally achieved significant milestones.

Other highlights.

I was a part-time Braille transcriber for several years at Vision Australia. While my specialisation was music Braille, I also transcribed general English Braille and the occasional foreign language textbook. I enjoyed attending the National Braille Music Camps, where Braille users from around Australia spend a week making music and learning music Braille.

For me, learning the piano as a child sparked a desire to learn more about where this music came from – western Europe, different periods of history, different cultures and languages. I was lucky to have the opportunity to lead several music tours to Europe for Academy Travel. Since I speak German, these tours focussed mainly on the music, history and culture of Germany and Austria.

Learning classical music truly opened up the world to me, and as a teacher, my number one goal is to nurture students in developing a love for music that will inspire them, emotionally comfort them, intellectually challenge them, and perhaps open doors to other career paths, as it did for me.

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

Requiem, Op. 90/7 by Schumann, sung by Bernarda Fink, or Rachmaninoff, Op. 18 Piano Concerto No. 2, 1st movement.

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.