WSP Board

Maximilian Holzner is the Chair and founder of Western Sydney Philharmonic (WestPhil), leading its mission to deliver orchestral training of national significance for young musicians. A graduate of the University of Cambridge and the Australian National University, Max studied violin with Josette Esquedin-Morgan and Barbara Jane Gilby, and has received numerous awards and scholarships, including the Cambridge Australia Trust Orde Poynton Scholarship and study at the Mozarteum, Salzburg.

As a performer, he has collaborated with many of Australia’s leading musicians, worked with professional orchestras and chamber ensembles across Australia and the UK, and served as assistant to the late Christopher Hogwood at the Academy of Ancient Music, preparing critical editions for Bärenreiter such as Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

With more than 20 years’ teaching experience, Max has held positions at Radford College, the ANU pre-tertiary programme, and Churchill College, Cambridge. His work now centres on governance and sector leadership: he is also Chair of Sydney Eisteddfod, Chair of the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW, and CEO of Gradus Software, an NSW Treasury-supported provider of curriculum-aligned digital resources for educators. A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Max is committed to advancing access, standards, and sustainability in music education and performance across Australia.

Janice Reid was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney from 1998 to 2013. She is a recipient of several Australian and international awards and honours and has been a member of the boards of public agencies and non-profit organisations at State, Federal and international levels. Her research has been in crosscultural public health and welfare, particularly in disadvantaged communities. She has served on boards in the arts, higher education, schools and international agencies.

I am the Deputy Executive Dean for the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. I was previously the Dean of the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University. I am a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) and work with Women who have high blood pressure in pregnancy. This includes running a research program in clinical and experimental work looking at blood pressure control and new treatments in pregnancy.
As a musician, I have played the piano since 6 years of age, and taught the piano since I was 15. I learnt the violin from Kerry Smith, a teacher at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music; I played in the inaugural Australian Doctor's Orchestra in 1992, and with the NSW Doctors Orchestra (Musicus Medicus) since its inception in 2004. I am excited to be part of the West Phil team as we bring sparkling new musical opportunities to the families of Western Sydney.

John is a CPA and registered tax agent involved in auditing, compilation of financial statements, taxation and management consultancy. He has more than 15 years experience as a QA reviewer with CPA Australia. His previous experience includes more than 20 years experience as the non-executive director of an IT software product company, where he was on the Audit and Risk Management Committees; being a lecturer at tertiary level in taxation law, accounting and financial management; and as a finance manager at a public company. He has previously been on the Board of Courage to Care, a Jewish social services charity and is now a Partner and Mentor at Collective Works, an Indigenous-owned western Sydney accounting and business advisory firm.

Daniel is a freelance professional Double Bassist and arts administrator with 20 years experience both onstage and behind the scenes.  He has been an enthusiastic advocate for orchestral education since his early experiences in youth orchestras, and has been supporting similar endeavors both professionally and philanthropically since 2015.  Daniel is also an arranger and award-winning composer, winning the 2MBS Fine Music Sydney Young Composer Award in 2018.

Frere has a background in banking, venture capital, and technology development, most recently leading investments for the Commonwealth Bank’s venture capital fund, x15Ventures. Prior to this, Frere worked in the music industry, having trained as a classical singer. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Melbourne, and is a Trustee of the Sylvia Fisher Fund for young Australian singers.