When he moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, Ian saw youth issues prevalent and this motivated him to recruit an amazing group of volunteers and launch this totally voluntary program, to engage local youth (11 – 17 years), from all over the Gold Coast. Having run his own international training business for the over 25 years, Ian has been able to utilise his management and mentoring skills to great advantage, enlisting mentors, schools, media, politicians, sponsors and participants.

Ian, along with his amazing volunteers, is passionate about helping children and the local community - as well as championing our returned Veterans since 2015, culminating in the 2023 launch of the Veterans Music Venture!

Dean has been a professional musician for 25 years, having performed all over Australia’s East Coast and achieving a Bachelor of Contemporary Music under guitar maestro Jim Kelly. His career has included live radio and national television appearances, as well as being part of the opening act for touring artists such as The Black Sorrows, The Radiators and Johnny Diesel – and performing on the same bill as many international artists including Suzi Quattro and a career highlight supporting Tom Jones at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

He has many years’ experience as a guitar tutor and has been with Youth Music Venture since its inception, mentoring young musicians on the Gold Coast and now Veterans in the Veterans Music Venture.

Leading Senior Constable Kurt Foessel is a 35 year veteran of the Queensland Police Service. A recipient of the QPS medal for diligent and ethical service, National Police Service medal and the Australian Police Service medal and currently the Officer in charge of the Elanora Police Beat.

Bob Anthony is the Industry Development Officer at Tweed Shire Council and is on the board of the Norths Collective (which the Seagulls Club at West Tweed Heads is a major part of). Bob has been associated with the Youth Music Venture since its inception and in recent years has become a Member of its Board.

His role at Tweed Shire Council and Seagulls has assisted in the Youth Music Venture expanding with success south of the border and their home in Tweed is his beloved Seagulls Club!

Mark O'Donnell is owner/manager of Red Heeler Business Essentials and has previously founded a number of successful print and creative businesses. Based in the heart of Coolangatta, his business services customers all over South East Queensland and aims to solve their marketing needs.

Community involvement has always been a passion of his. He has been involved with the Youth Music Venture since its inception and donates all its design work and promotional material.

Lisa is General Manager of their family-owned business, Prime Fish Australia, owning and operating three tuna long lining vessels based in Southport. They manage the whole process of catching, cleaning, filleting and selling, in order to give their customers the freshest fish they have ever had, including their substantial export market!

Randal is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with more than 35 years’ experience in Public Practice. He has been with Marsh Tincknell Chartered Accountants since 2004 and has worked in Adelaide, Darwin and London before settling in Queensland. Randal provides specialist tax advice to small and medium businesses, including Capital Gains Tax, GST and corporate structuring. Randal is also a cricket fan and very keen supporter of the Gold Coast Suns.

Bryce has had a great love of music his entire life and learning to play guitar at age 10 sparked a life-long love affair with music. He entered the Youth Music Venture in 2012 as a young musician, looking to expand his horizons within the music scene. In the program he gained appreciation for the value of collaboration in music performance and composition which sparked a desire to share his knowledge with others.

Bryce is now a music teacher at Pacific Pines State High School and leads several instrumental ensembles as well as engaging with students in the classroom. He has led several musical productions and thrives on providing students with the skills to develop their own individual sound and musicianship.

Bryce is skilled in several instruments including guitar, bass, piano and drums. Bryce returned to join the Youth Music Venture team as a mentor in 2016. He has provided his expertise as a qualified teacher, across all aspects of performance, music theory and musicianship.

Zara has twice completed the Youth Music Venture program and then went on to complete a Diploma  of Graphic Design at TAFE and Bachelor of Business  (Marketing) at Queensland University of Technology.

She now plays an invaluable role as Social Media Manager to keep our organisation “in the news”, both in an advisory capacity and also in calls to action, whether it be seeking registrations for our programs from our young musicians [and now Veterans], seeking volunteers for fund raising activities and actively sharing our achievements and Awards!