ARIA Re-Elects Natalie Waller as Chair, Sean Warner Named Deputy Chair

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has confirmed its latest leadership lineup, with Natalie Waller re-elected as Chair of the ARIA Board and Sean Warner elected Deputy Chair.

The organisation has also named Luke Vespa and Laura Edwards as the newest participants in its Board Observership Program.

Waller, Head of ABC Music at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, first stepped into the role in 2021 after replacing long-serving former Sony Music Australia chairman Denis Handlin. At the time, she revealed she had not actively pursued the position. “I had no idea I would even be an option,” she said in a 2022 interview.

Since taking on the role, Waller has overseen a period of significant industry change while continuing her leadership at ABC Music, one of Australia’s longest-running independent labels. Working closely with major Australian artists, she has helped guide the label’s collaboration with the triple j network across initiatives including Like A Version, while expanding its roster with new local signings.

Her broader industry involvement includes serving as a director on the board of the Country Music Association in the United States and previously holding a four-year term as Vice President of the Country Music Association of Australia. Waller has also supported emerging female leaders in the sector through mentoring in the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Women in Music program.

“I’m deeply honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the ARIA Board,” Waller said in a statement. “ARIA’s advocacy and leadership are essential to strengthening Australia’s music industry, and I’m grateful to continue working with such dedicated colleagues to champion our artists and amplify the value of Australian music. I’d like to thank the Board for their ongoing support and acknowledge Annabelle and the entire ARIA team for their hard work and commitment to our industry.”

Joining her in the board’s leadership team is Sean Warner, President of Universal Music Australia & New Zealand, who has been elected Deputy Chair. Warner has led the region’s largest recorded music company since January 2023, overseeing strategy across the Australian and New Zealand markets while championing both emerging and established artists.

A nearly two-decade veteran of the company, Warner previously served as Senior Vice President of Commercial, where he was responsible for digital growth, commercial strategy and major initiatives across the region.

“I’m honoured to be elected Deputy Chair of the ARIA Board at such an important time for Australian music,” Warner said. “ARIA plays a vital role in supporting domestic artists and the broader community, and I look forward to working closely with the Board and Annabelle to continue strengthening the local music industry. Together, we have a significant opportunity to drive sustainable growth, nurture the next generation of Australian talent, and ensure our industry remains innovative, inclusive and globally competitive.”

ARIA has also announced two new participants in its Board Observership Program, an initiative designed to provide emerging leaders with experience in governance and industry advocacy.

Luke Vespa, Streaming Partners Lead for ANZ and Southeast Asia at Warner Music Australia, joins the program with a focus on digital streaming strategy and platform partnerships aimed at driving artist discoverability and fan engagement across international and domestic repertoires.

Laura Edwards, Senior Streaming Partnerships Manager at Universal Music Australia, has spent the past seven years guiding digital strategy on artist campaigns. Edwards began her career as an audio engineer in live sound and holds a Bachelor of Music from the Australian Institute of Music.

The Observership Program is designed to broaden pathways into industry leadership by giving participants direct exposure to ARIA board discussions and governance processes, helping develop the next generation of decision-makers shaping Australia’s recorded music sector.