John Davis is moving on from his role as CEO of the Australian Music Centre (AMC), marking a long and distinguished career within an organisation that he shaped and grew. As he moves onto his next life adventure, it is worth taking stock of the incredible service he dedicated to an organisation that supports a large ecology of creative people and activity.

John DavisJohn Davis in 1992. Photo courtesy of the Australian Music Centre

The AMC is the national service organisation and peak body dedicated to the promotion and support of art music in Australia, established in 1974. They are a membership organisation providing career support, professional development programs, advocacy, representation, publishing, distribution, retail and promotion to those involved in the creation of new Australian music, more recently expanding their support to contemporary jazz, sound art, improvised and experimental music in addition to contemporary classical music. The AMC plays a key role in promoting Australian music to our education system and audiences worldwide. Davis oversaw the viability of this organisation through fluctuating funding climates, changes of government and the evolution of music distribution.

After beginning as the junior sales and marketing supervisor (1989-1991) then...