LYRIC BOARD
Suzanne Chaundy - Chair
Suzanne is a freelance opera and theatre director and Director of the Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme. A University of Melbourne graduate and NIDA trained, her career spans opera, text-based theatre and outdoor spectacle. Suzanne is passionate about good governance. Lyric is her fifth arts related board appointment. Prior to Lyric, she was Chair of Theatre Works. Suzanne has directed two productions for Lyric and runs regular opera directing workshops. Suzanne recently directed the mutli-award winning Der Ring der Niebelungen for Melbourne Opera at the Ulumbarra Theatre.
Juel Riggall - Secretary
Juel is a graduate of the University of Melbourne Conservatorium and has been a member of the Fondazione Pergolesi Spontini in Italy and the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School. She has sung roles and chorus for various companies including Opera Australia, Victorian Opera and Melbourne Opera. Juel has also appeared with The Australian Ballet as the mezzo soloist in their production of Anna Karenina. Her recorded work includes La Partenza, a collection of Italian songs and arias produced for the National Gallery Of Victoria’s Italian Masters Of The Prado exhibition. Recently, Juel sang the role of Caterina/Mezzo Soprano in Lyric Opera of Melbourne’s 2023 production of Biographica by Mary Finsterer.
Roger Walters - Treasurer
Roger whilst having a long-standing commitment to the performing arts has had a substantial international career in business strategy and corporate finance advising. He has substantial governance experience from almost four decades of Board memberships encompassing the finance, bio - technology, agriculture, research and manufacturing sectors ranging in scale from SME to Corporate to national industry sector operations. Professional Integrity and sound judgement have been key in advising corporations and governments with board roles in Commonwealth, corporate and private financial institutions responsible inter alia for the asset allocation strategies and prudent stewardship. Corporate sector experience also includes advising governments as well as advocacy to government and regulatory bodies. His academic credentials include BEc and MBA (Monash), MAppFin (Melbourne), GAICD.
Leah Phillips
Leah Phillips is an accomplished soprano passionate about interpreting diverse vocal works for modern audiences. A previous winner of the Opera Scholar of the Year Aria competition and the Boroondara Eisteddfod Vocal Championship, Leah has performed with Victorian Opera, Melbourne Opera, Lyric Opera of Melbourne and the Australian Contemporary Opera Company. Most recently, she performed the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at the prestigious Trentino Music Festival in Italy and undertook a study tour to London and Germany in March 2024 supported by an Ian Potter Cultural Trust Emerging Artist grant. When not performing, Leah is an in-demand freelance digital marketing specialist.
Coady Green
One of Australia’s leading concert pianists, Coady Green is acknowledged as a major talent on the international concert circuit. In 2005, Coady relocated to London where he frequently performed at the major UK venues and held teaching positions at the University of London and at the Royal College of Music. He has performed in major concert venues in over 20 countries. He is a frequent guest lecturer at leading international tertiary institutions. He teaches and lectures at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne. He is currently working on recording the complete solo and chamber music of Australian composer Linda Kouvaras, and the complete Etudes and Preludes of Anton Rubinstein, both for renowned UK label Toccata Classics.
Miki Oikawa
Miki has crossed over many areas in the arts over the years from a dancer to actor, producer and director. With a day job as a Product Owner specialising in identity verification, Miki is also a marriage celebrant and a yoga teacher / movement consultant, focusing on the specific needs of singers. Miki is President of The Richard Wagner Society of Victoria, board chair of IDPro and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.