The 2025 South Australian Music Awards are fast approaching! MusicSA is excited to share this year’s judging panel for the 2025 SA Music Awards. Bringing together an inspiring mix of industry leaders, artists, managers, agents, journalists, and community champions.
SAVE THE DATE: The 2025 SA Music Awards will be held at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre on Tuesday October 28.
The following judging panel will assess applicants for the Major Awards and Industry Awards categories, with People’s Choice voting opening to public soon, stay tuned for more information!
2025 Judges (A-Z)
Amelia Vesperman
An Artist Manager and Venue Bookings Coordinator at Good Intent, Amelia Vesperman oversees programming for Sydney’s Lansdowne Hotel and The Trocadero Room. She also co-produced Lansdowne TV in 2025, spotlighting the city’s vibrant live scene.
Bianca Nilsson
Adelaide-based artist manager Bianca Nilsson is the founder of Renegade Records, a female & LGBTQ+ owned company. She manages Bri Carter and Jesse Melancholy and drives touring and strategy with an ethos of celebrating individuality over conformity.
Catherine Satour
Catherine, a Pertame and Mirning artist from Alice Springs, has spent over 20 years championing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians across SA and the NT. A singer-songwriter and First Nations Program Manager at Support Act, she was inducted into the SA Music Hall of Fame in 2024 for her contributions to Coloured Stone and her advocacy in the music community.
Claire Qian
Claire Qian sits on the board of The Push and has held roles across Groovin the Moo, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Push Records. A leading voice in youth and all-ages programming, she’s a regular panellist on emerging audience trends and artist development.
David Simmons
Deputy editor of InDaily and CityMag, David has nine years’ experience in business and culture reporting. A passionate supporter of Adelaide’s music scene, he writes on local festivals, venue issues and artist representation, while being a regular face at gigs.
David Turley
An international producer, songwriter, manager and lecturer at Flinders Uni, David Turley has 25 years of experience across Australia, the UK and Germany. Based in Willunga, he works with global and local artists and collaborates widely with SA music organisations.
Felicity Edwards
With two decades in arts and community development, Felicity creates projects that connect live original music with new audiences, including Music in the Square, Friday Night Live and Make Music Day. She’s passionate about access and equity in the arts.
Heidi Ettema
Based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Heidi Ettema is the owner and director of Broken Record Publicity. With over a decade of experience, she’s led campaigns for artists from Kaylee Bell and The Beths to Kylie Minogue and alt-J, making her one of Aotearoa’s most in-demand music publicists.
Jack Parsons
Jack Parsons is the co-founder of Guts Touring and the Bush Music Fund, bringing live music to remote communities and creating opportunities for First Nations artists. He also plays in The Pretty Littles and has a background in law and journalism.
Joe Hay
General Manager of UNESCO Adelaide City of Music, Joe Hay has toured everything from punk bands to prime ministers. With a background in events and consulting, he’s a driver of national music policy change and international industry connections.
Kevin van der Zwaag
An ARIA-nominated drummer and multi-instrumentalist, Kevin performs with acts including Mondo Psycho and The Shaolin Afronauts. He brings 15+ years of festival, touring and event experience, and currently works as marketing manager for Adelaide Festival.
Liam Saunders
Pillar Talent Agency Senior Agent Liam Saunders built his career championing regional touring. From starting out in Portland at 15 to representing artists like 360, Masked Wolf and Darcie Haven, he’s become a passionate advocate for live music in every corner of Australia.
Mardi Caught
With nearly 30 years in music, Mardi Caught has held senior executive roles at Warner, EMI, Sony and MTV UK. Since founding The Annex in 2018, she has steered campaigns for artists including Genesis Owusu, Tash Sultana, Lime Cordiale and Jess Mauboy.
Nat Edwards
Nat Edwards has spent 15 years supporting SA’s live music scene, from managing operations at The Gov to touring with TISM. She also runs Homegrown at The Gov and works with youth initiatives like The Push and Northern Sound System.
Rhys Renwick
Rhys is a Melbourne-based musician and disability advocate with a decade of experience in songwriting and performing. Through his work with Wild at Heart Community Arts, he mentors and supports artists with disabilities, mental health challenges, and neurodiverse communities, while also improving venue accessibility and performing in his solo project, Rhysics.
Sarah Piercy
As Client Services Lead for Music at Moshtix, Sarah partners with venues, promoters and artists across the live sector. With experience as a DJ, artist relations manager and event strategist, she’s a strong advocate for emerging talent.
Sonia Smith
Sonia Smith is a Gugada (Kokatha) artist blending blues, gospel, folk, country and rock with powerful storytelling. Since 2023, she’s performed across major SA stages, and in 2025 premiered her acclaimed Fringe work Five Years Free.
Tiff Stodart
With 30+ years in SA’s music sector, Tiff has worked across governance, events, broadcasting and community development. Currently on the board of Three D Radio, she’s dedicated to mentoring and supporting the next generation of local musicians.
Warren Mason
Self-taught singer-songwriter Warren shares powerful stories of healing and identity through music. Deeply rooted in his community, his work reflects his life, culture and people, using music as a tool for storytelling and connection.
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