Who We Are - Community Media Training Organisation

What is the CMTO?

The Community Media Training Organisation is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO ID 91800), delivering accredited and pathways training to community broadcasters around Australia.

The CMTO's Purpose Statement is:

Provide specialised training that develops skilled and resilient community broadcasters

Our Vision is:

Media Skills for All

Read our 2021-2024 CMTO STRATEGIC PLAN V1.2 here.

The CMTO is committed to delivering high quality and innovative training using the latest education tools both online and face to face.

To find out what our clients and students think of us you can check out the results of our latest Annual Feedback Report and Quality Indicator Summary Report: CMTO_Annual_Feedback_Report_2021_V1.0

To discover more about training trends across the community media sector you can review the CMTO Training Needs Survey 2022-23 Report V1.0

The CMTO is a registered charity, you can view the CMTO Constitution and Latest Annual Report on the ACNC register.

The CMTO ackowledges the Community Broadcasting Foundation as a major funding partner.

Staff/Board

Giordana Caputo - Chief Executive Officer

Giordana Caputo is the CEO of the Community Media Training Organisation and Secretary of the CMTO Board. An experienced manager, broadcaster, producer, journalist and trainer, Giordana specialises in the delivery of outside broadcasting and features production training. Giordana has a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and delivers training to community broadcasters in NSW. She is the current Executive Producer of the CBAA’s National Features and Documentary Series. She is a member of 2RRR, Eastside Radio, 2SER , FBi Radio and 4ZZZ. Giordana is the former Executive Producer of FBi Radio's All the Best, previously served on the board of Radio Skid Row as Secretary and is a former 2RRR broadcaster. Giordana was a long-term worker and station manager of Brisbane’s 4ZZZ where she managed community development and training projects aimed at empowering and engaging marginalised groups through the media. She earned a degree in Journalism from the Queensland University of Technology and has produced content for a range of media organisations including 2RRR, Think + DO Tank, FBi, CRN, 4ZZZ, SBS Radio, Rave Magazine, The Australian Ballet and Media Monitors Australia.

Jason Velleley- National Training Manager

Jason Velleley is the CMTO National Training Manager. Jason is an accomplished community broadcaster, with over 20 years of experience in community radio. He produces the nationally syndicated CRN program Aussie Music Weekly, and for many years provided in-house presenter training in his role as Training Coordinator at 2HHH FM. Additionally, Jason's 15+ years experience in business development and management in the banking and finance industry will be crucial to resource development for the Business Development Focused Training project. He is also an Accredited Trainer for the CMTO, with a Certificate IV in Assessment and Training.

Charlotte Bedford- Project Manager: Leadership and Enterprise Training

Charlotte Bedford is a community media trainer, practitioner and researcher with over 30 years of experience of developing, managing and delivering media projects alongside diverse and often marginalised groups. This included a founding role as Educational Director for the Prison Radio Association, setting up the world’s first National Prison Radio Service. The experience forms the basis of a 2018 book on the history of UK prison radio and ongoing involvement with prisoner media development in Australia. Based in South Australia, she is a researcher with the University of Adelaide Department of Media, Chair of the SA Community Broadcasters Association, and a long-term volunteer and trainer with Radio Adelaide and 5WOW Semaphore.

Mikaela Ford - Pathways and Partnerships Manager

Mikaela Ford is the Pathways Training Manager at the Community Media Training Organisation. Mikaela brings a wealth of knowledge from her experience at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she assisted the music, entertainment, publishing and business affairs teams with administration and digital coordination for over 2 years. Mikaela is a proud Gamilaraay woman and was an active member of the Indigenous workforce at the ABC. Mikaela is a former volunteer at Koori Radio, assisting the team in production work. She has also completed a Certificate III in Screen and Media right here at the CMTO, and is currently undertaking her Certificate IV in Screen and Media with the CMTO. Outside of the CMTO, Mikaela is a vocal coach and holds a Bachelor of Music from the Australian Institute of Music.

Ugur Topal - Project Manager: Access & Inclusion

Ugur Topal is the Project Manager: Access & Inclusion at the Community Media Training Organisation. He spent the last five years working with people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Ugur holds a postgraduate degree in marketing and is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychological Science degree. Additionally, Ugur has seven years of experience in planning and delivering large scale digital media projects. The varied experiences that Ugur has had in working in the community has fuelled his interest in sociology and psychology. He also has a strong passion for advocacy, mental health and social equity.

Kween G- Traineeships Supervisor

Kween G is the Traineeship Supervisor at the Community Media Training Organisation. Kween has many years experience as a producer and presenter for the SBS Radio Sydney program, Alchemy. She is a former volunteer and employee at Radio Skid Row in community engagement and management. Kween is an active contributor to the music community in her former hip-hop group, KillaQueenz and still continues her solo carreer. She is a CMTO Accredited Trainer and is an independant producer recently working on the award winning podcast series ''Postponed Not Silenced".

Merryn McDonnell- Support Officer: Pathways

Merryn McDonnell is the Course Coordinator for the Introduction to Journalism in Community Media online course and Support Officer for Pathways Training. Prior to this, Merryn was the Media Learning Coordinator at Student Youth Network (SYN Media). In this role she facilitated training and produced the live broadcast program Schools On Air on SYN 90.7fm/DAB+ with young people based in Melbourne. Formerly the President and Board Member of SYN Media, Merryn has extensive experience in the community broadcast sector. She has co-produced, written and presented award winning podcasts/live radio programs and has created content for SYN Media, Triple R, 2SER, 4EB (The Wire), 4ZZZ as well as 1700 and Quiz Night on Channel 31. Merryn also enjoys performing live improv and sketch comedy. She has performed, directed and produced shows as part of the Melbourne International Fringe Festival (2019) as well as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (2018).

Amruta Nargundkar- Enterprise Development Officer

Amruta Nargundkar is the Enterprise Development Officer at the Community Media Training Organisation. She has 10 years' experience in the VET sector in various roles including courseware development and marketing. Amruta is also a filmmaker and podcast producer who is passionate about promoting diversity in Australian media.

Emma Couch – Student Services Support Officer

Emma Couch is the Student Services Support Officer at the Community Media Training Organisation. Emma is the former CMTO National Training Manager, she is currently studying primary education degree and is working with the CMTO part-time, lending her expertise to ensure our student experience is of the highest quality. Emma has a strong history in Community Radio, she started out volunteering at Koori Radio and spent five years at Radio Skid Row in various roles including Board Member and Producer. Emma came to the CMTO from the CBAA where she organised a number of events, including the CBAA Conference and Awards and the CBAA Webinar Program.

Alex Knysh – Training Assistant

Alex Knysh is the Training Assistant at the Community Media Training Organisation. Liaising with trainers and students, Alex brings her background in education, coaching, and workshop facilitating to work part time with the CMTO whilst also running her Energy Coaching business. Alex is a strong advocate for mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Gemma Purves – Course Coordinator: Audio Ability

Gemma Purves is the Course Coordinator for the AudioAbility Program at the Community Media Training Organisation. She has been involved with community radio for almost 10 years. In that time she has worked across community, commercial, and public broadcasters as a journalist, producer, station manager, content & communications manager, and board member. She presents The New Thing on Eastside Radio and is currently completing her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Madhuraa Prakash – Communications Coordinator

Madhuraa Prakash is the Communications Coordinator at the Community Media Training Organisation. Madhuraa was originally the trainee communications assistant at CMTO, completing her traineeship and her Certificate IV in Screen and Media in early 2023. Madhuraa is currently the host of All The Best on FBi Radio. She also freelances in news and opinions, and her writing has appeared in publications such as JUNKEE, SBS and South Asian Today.

Karen Kundicevic – Compliance and Finance Officer

Karen Kundicevic is the Compliance Officer at the Community Media Training Organisation. Karen has over eight years of experience in the VET sector. Karen has an extensive finance background and has worked as an Accounting Trainer and Assessor. Karen also has experience in developing accounting resources. Karen has also worked on the former Australian TV show Horse Talk TV. Karen holds a number of qualifications including the Diploma of Training Design and Development.

Robylaine Joyce Rivera - Executive Assistant

Robylaine Joyce Rivera is the Executive Assistant at the Community Media Training Organisation. She has seven years of extensive experience in the corporate field wherein she performed various roles in Office and HR administration. She is working with the CMTO on a part time basis, providing her expertise in all aspects of internal and external communications and administrative support to the management. Joyce is keen on her personal and career development and is currently studying a VET course in Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning).

Deborah Evans- Chair

Deborah Evans is the Chair of the Community Media Training Organisation Board, and brings a wealth of experience from her 17 years working in the VET sector for TAFE NSW to the CMTO. She has over 25 years experience as a Human Resources Manager and over 10 years experience as a Management Consultant and small business owner. Deborah has a strong connection to community broadcasting, having presented programs at 2NSB, 2BOB and 2MBS and filling the role of Fundraising Director on the 2NSB Board. Deborah is a former volunteers at the Bread & Butter project, a Social Enterprise supporting Refugees and Asylum seekers develop work ready skills as Bakers and to adjust to their new Country and home.

David Turrell- Deputy Chair

David Turrell is an enduring member of community media and is currently CEO of 1079 Life, where he was general manager for 6 years prior. David was presented with the prestigious Michael Law Award in 2019 by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, for his sustained and outstanding contribution to community broadcasting . He was the CEO of Christian Media Australia in 2004-2012, where he represented the interests of radio and TV stations, program producers and industry professionals. David has experience as a producer for film and television and is also a musician and composer. His strengths lie in strategy, leadership development and radio.

Natalie Pozdeev- Director

Natalie Pozdeev is a media education specialist, with expertise in practice-based radio, journalism and digital content training. She is currently Program Convenor at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), where she leads the radio and podcasting team. As well as being a Board member of the CMTO, Natalie is also a Non-Executive Director of the Financial Rights Legal Centre.

Natalie first started in community broadcasting at 2MCE in Bathurst in 2001, and has had a long affiliation with 2RRR, most recently as Chair of the Board. She was Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) for eight years, and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. Natalie was previously the Head of Radio at the AFTRS, and the Head Teacher of Media, Radio and Journalism at TAFE NSW. Natalie has a Masters Education (Leadership), and holds qualifications in education, events management, sustainability, visual communications and design.

Dre Ngatokorua- Director

Dre ‘MoZzi’ Ngatokorua is an Adnyamathanha and Wangkangurru, Cook Island and Maori Broadcaster at Umeewarra media, Dre started as a trainee in 2013 while he was at school as a volunteer and has rocked the studio ever since with the ‘Straight Out Show’ which give focus to youth issues and voice to young people in the Port Augusta community. Dre brings a new mindset to the team through his music selection and topic he covers – encouraging other young people to have a voice. Dre has been running DJ workshops, school excursion talks and the ‘MoZzi X Inkatja’ Show multimedia cultural experience at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Dre always has fresh ideas and comes at everything from a youth perspective.

Matt Field - Director

Matt Field is the CEO of Attitude Foundation - a disability led media organisation shaping a new understanding of disability through the development and promotion of media content. Matt is also currently working with the Community Broadcasting Association Australia to provide leadership support to the Radio Reading sector and explore new opportunities to increase engagement with the broader disability community. Matt has a long association with the Community Media sector and was previously CEO of Melbourne’s Community TV Station, C31 and Secretary of the Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA). Matt is passionate about the power of media to increase social cohesion through authentic portrayals of diversity.

Pradeep Timalsina - Director

Pradeep Timalsina is originally from Nepal and migrated to Australia in 2008. Pradeep has produced fortnightly TV shows for the Television Sydney in 2011 and worked as a founder producer of My Nepal Television Australia. Pradeep has been with CMS Radio FM 91.1 Canberra since 2014, before he was with Northside Radio from 2008 to 2014. He is a director of the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council. Pradeep has over 20 years of experience in the audio video sector. Pradeep has an extensive audio video production background and has worked as an audio video Trainer. He has taught audio video production to the new film makers and radio presenters. Besides volunteering at Community Radio, he is active on social media platforms producing content for the Nepalese listeners.