OUR BOARD
CHAIR
Tim Staindl
Tim began his journey with the ABCI as a Probationer in 1999. He passed through the ranks and was appointed Head Chorister in 2004, before joining The Kelly Gang and then The Vocal Consort when his voice changed. Tim obtained a Bachelor of Music from the Melbourne Conservatorium, during which time he worked as a staff member with the ABCI, tutoring boys in all the different groups.
Tim went on to study law, obtaining a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne. He worked as a solicitor and then at the Supreme Court, and is now a barrister working in a range of practice areas, including commercial, administrative and criminal law.
In his spare time, Tim is a one-fifth part of a cappella group, Thursday’s Child.
DEPUTY CHAIR
Glenn Williams
Glenn formally studied management, leadership and governance at the Melbourne Business School, ESSEC in France and Harvard University in the USA. Glenn is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Glenn’s work with nLIVEn involves integrating leadership coaching and management consulting to assist organisations understand their true assets and how to profit from them. Glenn has over eighteen years' experience as a CEO, Director and Chairman and has served on the board of more than thirteen different organisations. Glenn is also the author of a variety of books, essays and blogs that integrate personal and professional development.
After volunteering with the caring team for several years, Glenn joined the ABCI Board in early 2017.
SECRETARY
Fiona Trumble
Fiona has been an active member of the ABCI community since her son joined in 2013. Volunteering in many roles since then, she joined the board as Honorary Secretary in 2021. Her son is now a member of the Kelly Gang.
Fiona holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance and is a Certified Practising Accountant and Chartered Secretary. She is also a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and Chartered Governance Institute.
Throughout her career, Fiona has worked in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in a variety of financial, governance, risk and compliance management roles. Fiona is currently the Compliance Manager at Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew.
TREASURER
Deborah Damman
Deborah commenced professional life as a Secondary Teacher of English, Speech and Drama; transitioned to Information Technology as a Project Manager in the late 1980s and then to running her own Bookkeeping Business in the mid - 2000s. She has been involved with the Choir Community since 2011 when her son, Ian, joined as a Probationer.
A decade on, Deborah has volunteered for every role within the Choir and has recently recommenced with the Board as its Treasurer.
A great supporter of the Australian Boys Choral Institute, Deb is looking forward to being part of the team that will steer the organisation out from under the Covid Cloud, back into exceptional face to face music training and memorable performances.
DIRECTOR
Stephen Duffy
Stephen Duffy has been involved with the Australian Boys Choral Institute since his son Liam’s successful audition in March 2010. Liam progressed through all levels of the Australian Boys Choir until his voice change in January 2016, following which he sang with the ABC teenage ensemble, the Kelly Gang. Stephen joined the ABCI Board in March 2013 and became the Chair in March 2014. He has completed an Australian Institute of Company Directors short course aimed at not-for-profit directors.
In his professional life Stephen is an interventional cardiologist who works full time at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He is an Adjunct Professor at Monash University where he holds an honorary appointment in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine. He is also on the Board of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and is presently its Honorary Treasurer. Stephen is also on the Steering Committee of both the Victorian Cardiac Outcomes Registry and the Melbourne Interventional Group.
DIRECTOR
Suba Rudolph
Suba has been part of the Australian Boys Choral Institute since her son, Jeevantha joined the choir in 2018. Jeevantha has progressed through the training levels, and is a current member of the Performing Squad.
Suba has volunteered as part of the caring team, and then served as the Child Safety Officer of the Institute over a number of years.
In her professional life, Suba is a Consultant General and Developmental Behavioural Paediatrician. Suba is the Deputy Director of the Womens and Childrens Clinical Institute at Epworth Healthcare, and is a senior paediatrician at Austin Health and at the Mercy Hospital for Women. Suba has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.
DIRECTOR
Rachel Atkinson
Rachel Atkinson is a cellist, chamber musician, recording artist and music educator.
She has been associated with the Choral Institute since her son joined in 2010. He rose to the rank of Chorister and enjoys a rich and committed life of music.
Rachel studied cello at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music with Georg Pedersen and at the Royal Academy of Music, London with David Strange, Lynn Harrell and the Amadeus Quartet.
Rachel worked with the Melbourne Symphony for over twenty years. During that time, she toured internationally on many occasions and enjoyed partnerships with artists as diverse as Sting, the Three Tenors and Ray Charles. She took part in numerous Outreach programs, working with prisoners and their families, collaborating with theatre companies and with schools in remote areas. She was the Artistic Director of Nefes Ensemble, performing Classical music from the Ottoman Court and Sufi ritual, performing at the Melbourne and Adelaide Festivals.
Rachel is the cellist of the Fidelio Quartet who completed their three-year Beethoven Cycle at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
She is the Head of the Music Academy at Camberwell Grammar.
Photo by James Lauritz