The latest TAKE IT ON Leadership Mentoring program has launched following the success of last year’s pilot.
An integral part of this program are the team of mentors we have recruited to help guide stations through the program. These mentors bring extensive leadership experience from across the community broadcasting sector.
Nat Grant
3MDR Station Manager
Dr. Nat Grant is a researcher and sound artist with more than 15 years’ experience across broadcasting, podcasting, live performance, digital arts, and community arts. Nat is interested in the power of sound and music as storytelling tools and is invested in creating and maintaining community around sound making.
“For me, this is my second time being a mentor for the CMTO and I'm so grateful this organisation exists! Peer to peer mentoring, especially in this sector that is so varied, is such an incredibly practical way to share skills and experience, both from mentor to mentee, but also from mentee to mentor. I've only been Station Manager at 3MDR for a little over 12 months so a lot of my learning journey is very fresh. This makes me even more excited to share anything I've learnt over the past year that might help someone else with the work they are doing.” - Nat Grant
Nat also shared that their mentee, Rosh Veera from Alive 90.5fm, has started a newsletter for her show ‘Busy Mums Radio’, which talks about her community radio journey. Check it out here.
Dave Houchin
3RRR Station Manager & CBAA Board Member
Dave Houchin has 15+ years experience as a NFP CEO and Non-Executive Director. Currently Station Manager at Melbourne's 3RRR, Dave has 20+ years experience working within metro and sub-metro community broadcasters in Victoria and Western Australia in a variety of roles from volunteer presenter to Station Manager. He's a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds Bachelors Degrees in Commerce and Arts. He's passionate about the work of NFPs, independent media, community engagement, and public spaces.
“Mentoring an emerging leader in our sector was a very rewarding experience for me. It felt like a very efficient investment of time and resources that will successfully grow the capability of one of our sector's future leaders. Therefore I hope the Take It On program can grow the future capacity of the community broadcasting sector as a whole.” - Dave Houchin
Benjamin Erin
8CCC Station Manager
Benjamin Erin has been the station manager at 8CCC Community Radio in Mparntwe/ Alice Springs for six years. A graduate of AFTRS Radio Program and Content Directors Course and the Diploma of Business Governance through the Institute of Community Directors, he recently completed a Masters in Business Sustainable Enterprise through Charles Darwin University. Benjamin is a passionate supporter of Central Australian and Barkly music. Benjamin was the recipient of the Station Leadership Award at the 2023 Community Radio Awards.
Stephen Stockwell
Former 4ZZZ Station Manager, ABC Journalist
Stephen Stockwell is a podcaster and radio maker with over 15 years of experience across production, technical and management roles. He cut his teeth at 4ZZZ in Brisbane, volunteering in the newsroom and hosting shows. He produced talkback in commercial radio before heading to the ABC where he worked for almost a decade across RN, Rural, triple j and ABC News. Stephen has always maintained strong connections with his community radio roots. He was a member of the 4ZZZ board of directors for five years and recently finished a three-year stint as station manager. He’s also delivered pathways training and developed resources for the CMTO.
Evrim Şen
Former SYN Media General Manager, CBF Development & Operations Grants Advisory Committee Chair & community arts
Evrim started working in community media in 2016 as part of a culturally and linguistically diverse program on SYN Media. Since that time, Evrim has worked as SYN’s Training and Development Manager, running their social enterprise SYN Media Learning (providing training and broadcasting opportunities to 3,500 school aged students every year), as well as numerous creative, technical and training projects including writing radio dramas, working on SYN’s infrastructure upgrades and delivering training during the Artlands Festival in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria in Bendigo. Evrim was most recently the General Manager at SYN Media. She hopes to continue the growth and innovation of community broadcasting, supporting new ideas and thoughtful strategy. Evrim is currently the Chair of the CBF Development & Operations Grant Advisory committee.
Phil Ruck
Former 3MDR Station Manager
Phil Ruck is a seasoned community radio presenter with a 16-year tenure in the industry. As the former long-term station manager at 3MDR, he has played a crucial role in shaping the station's success and fostering a sense of community among its listeners. Phil's passion for radio is evident in his engaging and informative broadcasts, combining music, interviews, and local news.
Ren Cuttriss
3MDR Engagement Coordinator
Ren has been involved in the world of community broadcasting at 3MDR in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges since 2014. Prior to joining 3MDR Ren worked for many years in the areas of community services and education. In addition to looking after sponsorship, training, community engagement, digital marketing and of course, volunteer management at the station, Ren also co-hosts the award winning live and local music program The Dotted Line.
TAKE IT ON is a unique program designed to develop leadership and management skills for thriving and sustainable community radio and television stations. Emerging leaders from 7 stations across the country have been matched with mentors for 10 weeks of customised support as they tackle a specific issue for their organisation.
Find out more about about the mentoring experience
These are the stations participating in this year’s program:
- 1CMS Canberra
- 2CCR Alive 90.5
- 2RSR Radio Skid Row
- 3BGR Good News Radio
- 5PBA Salisbury
- 5DDD Three D Radio
- 7EDG Edge Radio