WASO appoints new Chief Executive Officer

A highly respected national cultural leader and a passionate advocate for music in Western Australia, Mr Coughlan is a familiar face to WASO having served as a board director since 2009.

WASO Chairman Richard Goyder said “We are delighted that Mark has accepted the role of CEO. He has made a significant contribution to the music community of Western Australia over many years and provided valuable guidance to WASO over the last decade as a member of our board. Following an extensive search, we are confident that Mark is best placed to continue to build WASO’s international reputation for artistic excellence and community engagement.”

Born and raised in Western Australia, Mark Coughlan is a company director, pianist, music critic, teacher and concert promoter. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Musica Viva Australia and was Federal Chairman of the Australian Music Examinations Board, Australia’s largest music examination and publishing company. He established the Government House Ballroom concert series in 2006 and held the position of Head of the School of Music at the University of Western Australia from 1995-2003.

He now departs his role of twelve years as Executive Director of the Leeming Medical Group, a family general medical practice in Perth’s southern suburbs.

“I have loved and admired the West Australian Symphony Orchestra all of my life. From a young age, WASO provided my window into the remarkable world of music, as it does for so many West Australians. It is a privilege to now have the opportunity to work alongside Principal Conductor Asher Fisch and WASO’s talented musicians to contribute to the continued success of one of Australia’s finest orchestras. I am excited to be following in the footsteps of Craig Whitehead and to build on his outstanding contribution to the orchestra.” – Mark Coughlan

Mark Coughlan will commence his role as Chief Executive Officer in January 2019 succeeding Craig Whitehead, who departs the company after ten years.