TDP Board
Alan Jones, AO
Chairman
Alan Jones AO is a former radio broadcaster and a highly popular commentator now on Sky News Australia.
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A former teacher and political advisor, he coached the Australian Rugby Team to their first ever win of the Grand Slam, a feat never since repeated. Alan has been instrumental in the development of careers and progression of many TDP students and graduates. Alan regularly interviews and promotes the students on his shows and opens many doors for them in the music and entertainment business.
Tim Worton
Board Member
Tim is Group Director for Arena’s for AEG Ogden’s Australasian Network.
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He oversee’s AEG Ogden’s Arenas in Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle. His involvement includes business development for new venue management agreements throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia. He is responsible for securing concert and entertainment events in these arenas and across other AEG Ogden Venues that host entertainment events, including convention centres and stadiums. He works collaboratively with other venues that are not managed by AEG Ogden to secure events which can include AEG Ogden venues in a tour.
He was a Certified Facilities Executive (CFE) by international industry body, IAVM in 2006. General Manager of Sydney Entertainment Centre 1998 to 2005. Former General Manager for Newcastle Entertainment Centre 1994 to 1998, responsibilities included management and operation of the Centre as part of the AEG Ogden Network. He was former Business Manager for Newcastle Entertainment Centre responsible for establishment of the financial and business management of the Centre during the pre-opening and initial operating phase.
His qualifications and memberships include: Past President of the Venue Management Association (VMA), Asia and Pacific.
Pam Christie, BA, DipEd, DipSpEd, GAICD
Board Member
Pam has held a number of statutory and executive positions in the Government and tertiary education sector in Australia over the past 20 years.
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Pam is currently Executive Director, Regulatory Operations with the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the body responsible for regulating the quality of vocational education and training in Australia. Pam was previously Managing Director of TAFE NSW, Australia’s largest vocational education and training organisation. In this role she forged a range of innovative industry partnerships, drove transformational change and shaped new policy, governance and business directions.
Pam has a passion for changing lives through education and training. She began her career as a secondary school teacher, worked overseas as an Australian Volunteer in Zambia, worked in the adult migrant education sector before working in the area of vocational education and training policy and regulation. Pam has led two of Australia’s largest TAFE NSW Institutes, Sydney and South Western Sydney and was responsible for TAFE NSW offering its first degree level programs as a higher education provider.
Pam is a member of the NSW TAFE Commission Board, the Board of Studies NSW and the LH Martin Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Management Advisory Board.
John Foreman, OAM
Board Member
John was one of the first TDP Graduates, completing the program in 1992.
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He is now recognised as one of Australia’s leading musical directors, a pianist and composer and a well-recognised face on Australian television. John’s big break came when he was offered the job of musical director for Bert Newton’s ‘Good Morning Australia’ at 19 years old. He joined ‘Australian Idol’ in 2003. John helped launch the careers of Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll and Anthony Callea and produced a gold album for ‘Idol’ judge, Marcia Hines, before leaving the show in 2008.
John is musical director and producer for Vision Australia’s ‘Carols by Candelight’ and hosts the annual Schools Spectacular, which is broadcast on ABC TV.
Imogen Clark
Board Member
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In 2020, Imogen released her critically acclaimed EP The Making Of Me (touted by Rolling Stone as “a landmark”) and played a series of sold out live stream and in-person shows, where the Sydney Morning Herald said “she commanded the stage with a matchless acuity”. In 2021, Imogen returned with a second EP Bastards, which has been touted by the Herald Sun as “a thing of wonder”.
Cutting her teeth playing in local pubs during her teen years, Imogen graduated from the Talent Development Project in 2012 at the age of 17, before taking the stage with artists like Shania Twain, Clare Bowen, Diesel, Jim Lauderdale and Ian Moss.
Imogen has worked relentlessly over the past decade building up her musical chops, with her most recent musical offerings garnering widespread acclaim both in Australia and North America. She has maintained a consistent touring schedule, gracing stages throughout Australia, the U.S., Europe and the U.K., including festival line ups for Maverick (U.K.), Americana Festival (U.S.) and Blue Mountains Folk Festival (Aus).
The ever-growing list of international collaborators Imogen has worked alongside on the stage, in the studio and in writing sessions include Colin Hay (Men At Work), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Mike Meadows (Taylor Swift), as well as local acts Kasey Chambers, Alex Lahey, Clare Bowen and Emma Swift.
Charlton Hill
Board Member
Charlton has decades of experience in the music, screen, advertising and technology industries in an array of creative roles including major recording artist, published songwriter and actor to innovative strategist and music technology entrepreneur.
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Having begun acting and performing professionally at 12 years old, Charlton forged his career in bands, TV series, on stage and in films. By his early twenties, Charlton had been signed by a major record label and publisher as a singer songwriter, writing and recording internationally and performing with the likes of John Mayer, Bic Runga and the Whitlams.
Turning his attention to music to picture and the business of a sustainable career in the arts, Charlton began running studios and collaborating with screen composers, overseeing countless music projects for major brands and TV Networks.
In 2010, with a foot firmly planted in both art and commerce, Charlton partnered with renowned music producer and sonic technologist Justin Shave to establish Uncanny Valley – a high end, music and technology company working with artists, publishers, labels and brands – that has since risen to prominence around the world.
Narelle Yeo
Board Member
Associate Professor Narelle Yeo spent much of her performing career in the USA, performing roles in theatre, opera and musical theatre including Cio Cio Sam in Madama Butterfly, Leonore in Fidelio, Sharon in Masterclass, Mrs Manningham in Gaslight and Guenevere in Camelot.
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TDP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus
Mary Lopez, AM
In 1991, Mary Lopez AM was appointed the Artistic Director of the TDP. Mary devised the teaching program upon which the TDP is based.
Her personal belief in the talent of young performers led her to devote over 35 years to their development. Few people have given more to NSW Public School students and in 2010 her amazing contribution to public education and the arts was recognised with the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Western Sydney.
Mary’s success as a Producer/Director emanates from her flair for capturing the spirit of Australia through themed productions in huge cast variety Spectaculars and Special Performance Events. Over her career, Mary created over 60 major productions, many of which have been televised. She created the concept for the Schools Spectacular from which the TDP grew. She was the Director of every Schools Spectacular from its launch in 1984 until 2008.
Mary played a pivotal role on the TDP Board of Directors until her resignation in 2021.
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