Festival of Voices
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    Our board

    The Festival of Voices board plays a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of Australia’s premier celebration of singing. As a volunteer governance group, the board ensures the festival continues to grow sustainably, remain artistically ambitious, and strengthen its impact across Tasmania and beyond.

    Our directors bring expertise from a wide range of fields, including finance, governance, arts and events, law, education, sustainability, philanthropy and community engagement. Their combined experience helps us navigate opportunities, support long-term planning and maintain strong relationships with government, business and local communities.

    What our board does

    The Festival of Voices board works closely with the leadership team to oversee the organisation’s strategic priorities. This includes:

    • Providing governance and financial oversight
    • Championing accessibility, innovation and environmental responsibility
    • Supporting the development of partnerships, funding and philanthropic networks
    • Contributing to annual strategic planning
    • Offering advice, connections and guidance that help the organisation thrive

    Our board meets quarterly and engages in ongoing conversations and sub-committee work to support key areas of the festival’s operations.

    Why our board matters

    The festival’s vision — to be the most inclusive and celebrated vocal festival in Australia — relies on strong, thoughtful and community-minded leadership. The board helps ensure the festival is positioned for long-term success by:

    • Prioritising audience experience and artistic excellence
    • Strengthening our presence across regional Tasmania
    • Supporting national and international reputation growth
    • Ensuring the festival remains sustainable, innovative and financially resilient

    Through their dedication, our board helps create a festival that brings people together through the power of voice, culture and community.

    Tim Munro
    Chair

    Tim has had an extensive career in the performing arts both as a creative and administrator. He was CEO of Hobart’s Theatre Royal for 17 years and head of its Technical and Operations departments before that. Working as a lighting designer and production manager, Tim has also lit and toured theatre productions around much of Australia and many other parts of the world. He has extensive Board experience; formerly the National President of the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (now PAC Australia), a director of Two Turns Dance Theatre, and was elected to the executive council of Live Performance Australia. In addition to Chairing Festival of Voices, Tim is a director of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania. Tim has a strong interest in outdoor pursuits including walking, sailing, cycling and trout fishing and he and his wife live in Hobart.

    Lara Giddings
    Board Member

    Lara Giddings joined the Festival of Voices Board in 2019, bringing a lifelong love of music, theatre and community arts. Having tread the Theatre floorboards while studying at the University of Tasmania, it was as a Member of Parliament that she helped launch the inaugural Festival of Voices in 2005. Elected to Parliament in 1996 as the youngest woman ever elected to an Australian parliament, she represented Lyons and later Franklin, and became Tasmania’s first female Premier, with arts portfolios among her ministerial roles. Since retiring in 2018 after the birth of her daughter, Natasha, Lara has continued her leadership and community service as CEO of AMA Tasmania and through board roles including Salveo Healthcare and the Hush Foundation, bringing strong governance experience and a belief in music’s power to connect people.

    Svetlana Kolyasnikova
    Board Member

    Svetlana Kolyasnikova is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor with over a decade in public practice, specialising in business services for a diverse range of organisations. Svetlana is a partner at BDO in Hobart, who brings expertise in financial reporting, financial management and strategic planning. As a Director and Treasurer for Festival of Voices, she is focused on fostering strong financial stewardship and building solid foundations for sustainable long-term growth. An experienced finance professional and business advisor, she loves turning numbers into stories that help organisations thrive. She is dedicated to the leadership of Festival of Voices and to her fellow board members, working to make a positive impact and supporting others in making confident decisions.

    Peter Cretan
    Board Member

    Peter has always lived in Hobart and is now retired from a career in business. He has held management and board positions in his family business in a variety of industries, including tourism and hospitality, debt collection, aquaculture and property development. He holds his Licentiate of Music in piano performance and has been an active and passionate choral singer for much of his adult life.

    Sarah Morrisby
    Board Member
    Sarah brings more than a decade of experience working with leading orchestras across Australia, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Her career spans performance, fundraising and arts administration, with expertise across philanthropy, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, bequests and grants.
    A trained solo and choral vocalist, Sarah has maintained a close connection to singing through ongoing involvement in local choirs, workshops and theatre productions. Working across both professional and community arts settings has given her a strong appreciation of music’s ability to foster connection, amplify diverse voices and create meaningful shared experiences. She has seen firsthand how singing can strengthen communities and inspire lasting impact.
    As a new board member of Festival of Voices, Sarah is passionate about championing participation in singing and supporting initiatives that celebrate the transformative power of music.
    David Ovens
    Board Member
    David currently works with Dobson Mitchell Allport (DMA), where he advises and advocates for corporate and individual clients across a range of civil disputes, including the regular provision of legal advice to Boards of not-for-profit organisations on matters relating to employment law, industrial relations and broader corporate compliance.
    Outside of work, David is a keen chorister and spends much of his spare time rehearsing and performing with various groups across Hobart. When he’s not singing, he enjoys the latest comedy series or a board game with friends.