Jana Gibson to head APRA AMCOS membership

Jana Gibson will take over as APRA AMCOS’ head of member service on June 1.

The role is currently held by Dean Ormston who moves up to the CEO role on July 1.

APRA AMCOS has 95,000 members.

In her new role, Gibson leads the writer services, member relations, publisher relations and repertoire, Sounds Australia and Live Music Office teams.

She will further oversee other member initiatives such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office, SongHubs, SongMakers, Awards and outreach programs.

Ormston said, “Jana brings strong operational and relationship management expertise to the role and a demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and consultatively across the business and our membership.

“She is widely respected as a senior manager in the business and we look forward to having her on the leadership team”.

It has been three years since a female held a role at this leadership level at APRA AMCOS.

Gibson follows Sally Howland who remains an advisor to the organisation.

It was Howland who spotted her potential and recruited Gibson to her first role at APRA AMCOS 15 years ago.

“This role is about managing competing demands and exercising sound judgement and Jana will deliver strongly against that with her quiet confidence and her highly organised and solutions-driven mode of operation”.

One of APRA AMCOS’ strengths is its active and pro-active connecting with  writer, composer and publisher members and the music industry at large.

Gibson’s two priorities are to continue providing high level customer service and efficient and accurate payment to members.

These goals will be supported by targets to:

* membership growth through increased engagement with educational institutions;

* improving diversity - addressing gaps in gender, ethnicity and geography;

* creating career pathways locally and internationally through program development;

* working to support the longevity of members’ careers.

Gibson’s approach to her role is summed up: “We need to be present in the lives of music creators throughout their careers and through business cycles.

“We are a vital part of the industry ecosystem as we provide services, opportunities and advocacy to support their livelihoods.

“In a time of diversifying income, increased access to data and market disruption, we are continually partnering with our publisher, composer and songwriter members and the wider industry on opportunities to ensure their works are heard.”

Born in Queensland, Gibson moved to NSW to study at Lismore’s Southern Cross University and then to Sydney where worked in events with Peter Rix Management and (what is now) the International Convention and Exhibition Centre Sydney