Dr Christina Spurgeon (nominated by CBAA) is a Senior Lecturer in Media and Communication at the Queensland University of Technology. She has an enduring interest in the principles and practices of public access and participation in media and communications services, industries and public policy. This interest is reflected in a long and varied history of association with the community broadcasting sector. From volunteer program maker and cadet journalist at 2SER in the early '80s to co-chair of community TV licensee LINC TV in the late '90s, Christina has also served on the Board of the CBAA, and the CBAA's Standing Committee on Community Television. She was directly involved in lobbying to secure spectrum for community television in the transition from analogue to digital delivery platforms. Between 1999 and 2003 Christina also led another collaborative research partnership involving QUT, the CBAA, Briz 31, and the Australian Research Council. This project had a research training focus and made important and original contributions to policy debates about the role of quasi-market organisations such as community television in diverse media systems, and to participatory democracy. The partnership also led to the establishment of the Academic Stream of the CBAA's annual conference, and 3CMedia: Journal of Community, Citizen's, and Third Sector Media, a scholarly e-journal seeking to connect researchers, community media practitioners and the NGO sector. 3CMedia is published by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia and Christina is its founding editor.

Christina also serves on the editorial board of leading media studies journal, Media International Australia. Her areas of research and teaching expertise include the implications of new media for media and communication industries and public policy. Her book, Advertising and New Media, was published by Routledge in 2008.

 

Tiga Bayles, Chairperson (nominated by AICA) is one of the founders of Radio Redfern in Sydney and as such, since the early 1980s, has been one of the key drivers of the growth of the nation's highly successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media sector. A highlight of the Radio Redfern broadcasts was the station's coverage of the 1988 Bicentenary, with Tiga and his team covering the event from an Indigenous perspective.

After moving to Brisbane, Tiga worked with his uncle, Ross Watson, at Radio 98.9fm where he took over as General Manager and guided the radio station to its current position as the largest Indigenous radio station in Australia. Here, Tiga established Triple A Training, a nationally recognised training organisation delivering certificate level training in communications and broadcasting to Indigenous students.His accomplishments and work at Radio 98.9fm, helped Tiga lead the station to winning a "Deadly" award for Broadcaster of the Year in 1998.

Tiga has held many community and council positions. He is currently Chairperson of the National Indigenous Radio Service, he served as Chairperson of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council from 1987 to 1990 and is President of the Brisbane Aboriginal and Islander Independent School known as ‘the Murri School' which he helped found and develop. Tiga is also currently the National Ambassador for the National Indigenous English Literacy and Numeracy Strategy.

 

Andrew Baartz (nominated by CMA) studied commerce and began his working life in professional accounting with one of the largest international accounting firms. He then spent a decade working in Christian ministry in the city of Sydney with the Anglican Church, having also studied Theology.

With both commercial and ministry experience, Andrew has been on the boards of a number of not-for-profit Christian organizations, including the Church Missionary Society and Church Army Australia, and also recently was the Executive Director of two technology start-ups working in the mobile data sector, demonstrating an ability to take organisations from start-up to profitability.

He is currently Director of Innovation and Development for Wesley Institute (a trans-denominational, Christian higher education provider) and is also a Director on the board of Sydney's Hope 103.2FM.

 

Darce Cassidy (nominated by NEMBC) is a journalist and broadcaster with a special interest in freedom of speech and civil liberties. With a background in the ABC (Four Corners, Background Briefing, A.M. and P.M.) and the SBS (training) he has remained an advocate for community broadcasting as an alternative to the mainstream media. After leaving the ABC in 1997 he became National Spokesperson for Friends of the ABC.

In 1975 he joined the board of Melbourne community station 3CR in Melbourne in 1975 and remained with the station well into the 1980s, also delivering training at 3CR and other community stations in Australia. Darce has also served as Executive Officer of the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council, and Executive Director of Electronic Frontiers Australia - a civil liberties group concerned with internet censorship. It was at EFA, that Darce developed an interest in open source software, which he later pursued through an involvement with Computerbank Victoria.

Darce is currently on the The Ethnic Grants Advisory Committee at NEMBC.

 

Nicola Joseph (nominated by RPHA) also manages the newly-formed Community Media Training Organisation. Thirty years of media experience has seen Nicola work as a journalist, producer, executive producer and presenter at ABC Radio National and SBS Radio. She has been station manager of SBS Radio in Sydney. In community radio, she has worked at 4ZZZ, 2SER and Radio Skid Row as well as the CBAA and NEMBC. In 2003, she won the Michael Law Award for her contribution to the community broadcasting sector. Nicola has been a media trainer at radio stations around Australia, in the Pacific and in Asia.

Nicola is currently the CEO of the Community Media Training Organisation.