team

The PODt Team

Several of the team are professional musicians thinking about what happens after a career on the stage or in the pit. Our expertise is with stringed instruments - violins, violas, cellos and double basses. Our instruments have been our companions for many years and it’s important that they are passed onto the next generation. In some ways we don’t own these wonderful instruments, we merely accompany them for part of their journey.

Many of the team are part of the Parkville Ensemble, a group of professional musicians who work with Orchestra Victoria, the Melbourne, Sydney and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, the Australia Ensemble, the Australian Chamber Orchestra plus numerous overseas groups. The ensemble has been performing in Parkville since 1999, raising funds for many worthy causes including the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Parkville Association and freelance musicians whose careers were devasted by the pandemic. There have been 45 Parkville Ensemble events over the past 25 years with the most recent held in January 2024.

PODt Directors, Members and Patron

Stuart Riley BSc, CEng, MICE, MBA

Stuart has recently retired from principal double bass with Orchestra Victoria and has worked with most of the Australian Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Ensemble, the Halle, Opera North, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Welsh National Opera. The idea for PODtriangle was born after he and his wife Nicky Kilpatrick bought the first instrument to be loaned by PODtriangle, an 1800 Dodd cello. Stuart’s career includes civil engineering, project management, management consulting, marketing, MD of a consulting structural engineering business, setting up and owning an IT database start up and owning a franchise. And occasionally he plays the double bass.

Dr Deborah Cockrell AM PhD MBA GAICD BDS FDSRCPS FICD FPFA FADI FACD

Deb is a registered Oral Surgeon who migrated to Australia in 1996 and has had significant experience in leadership in the health sector. Deb has qualifications and expertise in leadership and formal Board roles. She was the first female President of the Australian Dental Association (NSW Branch) and has also served as President of the Australian Dental Council. Deb has held various other senior roles in academia, with legislative bodies and in NFP associations. She does not play the double bass.

Fiona Fleming MBA

Fiona is a Human Resources executive with strong commercial capability and extensive experience in leading risk management and organisational transformation. She has worked closely with Boards and external regulators across the not-for-profit sector and major corporates including financial services, telecommunications, health regulation, health and community services. Fiona is a passionate supporter of the arts and a great admirer of those with creative talents.

Michael Sharpe

Michael is an experienced credit, collections and financial services professional with a career spanning over 35 years. For the last 15 years he has held management positions within the mercantile industry, most notably as Managing Director. Michael has strong management and advisory skills with a particular focus on strategy, risk management and process improvement. Michael has also held senior management roles at ANZ, Nissan Finance, GE Capital and Mercedes Benz Financial Services.

Members

Members contribute to PODtriangle through their skills, expertise and involvement in the Instrument Committee and the Events and Partnerships Committee.

Patron

We are delighted to have Barry Jones, AC FAA FAHA FTSE FASSA FACE FRSA, as our Patron. Barry is a writer, teacher, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician. He is on the National Trust‘s list of Australian Living Treasures.

Barry is a long-term supporter of the Parkville Ensemble.

Partners

Piper Alderman

We are very grateful to the pro bono team at Piper Alderman Melbourne who have guided us through the complexities of company registration, ACNC application, charity constitution and all things governance.

https://piperalderman.com.au/