
Mark Smith
Executive Director
Mark started out as a drummer in Darwin bands Drum Drum and Culture Connect. He later became manager of both groups, taking Drum Drum on a tour to over 13 countries, whilst Culture Connect received national attention through triple j and Channel V. Mark later took on management of Darwin duo Sietta – the group achieving significant national impact with their first album, securing partnerships with Elefant Traks, Universal Publishing and New World Artists/Artist Voice.
Mark has been the Executive Director of MusicNT for the past ten years and, in that time, has grown the organisation’s internal capacity by initiating and supporting programs to deliver clear and sustainable outcomes for the NT music industry. Mark has high-level project management and governance experience, and holds a Bachelor of Business.

Liz Archer
Central Australian Manager
Whilst pursuing a career in youth and community services, music has remained central to Liz’s life. She studied classical piano at Elder Conservatorium in the late 70s and has performed piano and keys solo, as accompanist and in bands at private and community events along with singing in community choirs. For a decade Liz produced and broadcast a diverse range of programs with 102.1 8CCC Community Radio and more recently has co-ordinated local productions including Desert Song Festival, Desert Voice and Big Sing in the Desert, along with coordinating a very remote Festival in Walungurru (Kintore) in 2013. She returned to 8CCC in 2020 as a volunteer broadcaster showcasing original music by NT women.
Liz brings a wealth of experience working with remote communities, event and staff management skills, community development and report writing expertise into her role, along with a commitment to working collaboratively, listening to stakeholders and supporting the continued growth of independent, original music in and from central Australia.

Jeremy Taylor
Operations Manager
Jeremy has extensive experience working across the creative industries with over 11 years’ experience working on complex placed-based activations, festivals, exhibitions, performances, and arts and cultural infrastructure projects at both small and large scales.
As a former professional musician and with over 20 years’ experience performing, producing and facilitating music projects, Jeremy shares a deep commitment to the development of the music industry and specifically the principles and objectives of MusicNT.
Jeremy is also co-founder of Mycelium Studios, a multi-disciplinary creative hub, consultancy and exhibition/performance space in Melbourne’s north, where he oversees the operations of Mycelium Recording Studio.

Jeremy Conlon
Regional Areas Music Program Manager
Jeremy Conlon, freelance sound recordist – sound engineer, musician, and composer, has had over 30 years experience in many facets of the music industry. They were a member of Adelaide band The Violets, and has continued their electronic persona Cooperblack for the last 20 years. Jeremy has a degree in Classical Composition and enjoys writing, arranging and composing for contemporary songs. Jeremy was employed by Skinnyfish Music as an engineer and producer, and also worked at CDU as a town based remote lecturer in Music - Technical Production.
In Mparntwe (Alice Springs) they currently perform with Stellar Sea (bass guitar and voice), Cloud Sequence (Synth and production), and MATES (electric guitar and voice)
Jeremy’s music credits include ARIA award-winning albums “Gurrumul” and “Rrakala” by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (Skinnyfish Music), “Muyngarnbi – Walking With Spirits” featuring Tom E Lewis and Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool), Nabarlek – ‘Manmoyi Radio” (Skinnyfish Music), ‘Tjamuku Ngurra’ – Tjintu Desert Band, KND album ‘MUZIK IZ 4EVA” (CAAMA Music).
They run their own studio music production - sound business 'Left Of Elephant Sound' based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs).

Emma Gerard
Safety, Access and Equity Manager
Emma has been playing and performing music across Australia over the last 2 decades. Her experience spans the running of community music groups, choirs, events, festivals, performing in bands and teaching music to young people and adults.
Concurrently Emma’s professional life started in Design thinking and Education Redesign projects. This has taken her around the world and through many academic institutions where she has advocated for positive behaviour change projects through quality education.
These two worlds combine in Emma’s work at MusicNT where she aims to promote positive behaviour change in the music industry through the All Good Project. With a Bachelor in Social Design Thinking and an Honours thesis on Empathy in Society, Emma’s work speaks to the possibility of change to create a safer and healthy musical world for us all to enjoy.

Danielle Andrews
Harm Reduction Officer
Danielle Andrews is a dynamic performer and entertainer who has captivated audiences across the Northern Territory as a children’s entertainer, comedian, and professional weirdo.
In her role at MusicNT with the All Good Project, Danielle is dedicated to creating safer, more inclusive spaces in festivals and venues, ensuring everyone can enjoy live music experiences. With a mission to spread joy as generously as Nutella, Danielle brings creativity, humour, and passion to everything she does.

Genise Williams
Indigenous Women's Music Program Coordinator
Genise Williams’ comes from Ntaria (Hermannsburg), 125km west of Alice Springs.
She is a musician and was raised in a very musical family. Genise has been singing with her family since the age of 5, and is also part of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir, having toured with the choir since 2014.
Genise originally worked with MusicNT in 2015 in a mentoring capacity with Sista Sounds and Saltwater Divas, and has also previously assisted with MusicNT’s Bush Bands Bash.
Genise works with the Aboriginal women’s music community and keeps programs like Sista Sounds and Desert Divas strong.

Romana Paulson
Indigenous Music Development Officer
Romana is a Bundjalung and Mununjali woman from New South Wales but has lived on Larrakia Country and with the Darwin community for the majority of her life. For the past seventeen years Romana has focused on Event Planning/Management, Stage Managing, the hospitality industry and volunteering within the Top End LGBTQI+ communities.
Romana credits Event Management for opening doors for her to build a sense of community, a sense of belonging, and has helped her to create magic for those involved. She is an achievement driven and goal orientated person, who says her personal success is measured by self-awareness and experience.
Romana has taken on the role as MusicNT's Indigenous Music Development Officer, and strives to increase her leadership capacity in this industry as a First Nations person.
'The Music Industry strongly aligns with my passion for making the world shine brighter through engagement with others.'

Leisa Howlett
Communications & Engagement Officer
After studies in the creative industries and advertising, Leisa started her writing career as a music journalist for university and street-press mags around Brisbane. After a stint in travel marketing, she was inspired to take off on her own adventures and document her own experiences. She backpacked and freelanced her way through Latin America, one coffee and cerveza at a time.
Leisa developed her social media management, content creation and digital marketing skills at an agency in Alice Springs during the Coronavirus pandemic. She's since returned to one of her first loves – music – and moved up to Darwin to continue living the NT dream. Working across all our programs and their respective channels, Leisa communicates the work we do to our stakeholders and engages with musicians and industry workers across the sector.

Jack Gumbula
Remote Music Ranger
Jack is from Gove. His father, Jo Gumbula, played in the blues band Crystal Clear, and Jack grew up surrounded by music.
Jack loves listening to funk, jazz and the blues. Playing many instruments and rapping and songwriting, he believes music sends messages through the people.
Jack ran the Ramingining music room for two years, and his focus was on getting the young ones to learn about the two systems (law/lore) through music.