People

Novak is a composer and improviser whose work describes a restless artist fascinated by contrasts. He has written and performed works which defy easy categorisation for a range of settings from solo piano to orchestral works, receiving acclaim for his subversive piano trio HEKKA, his contemporary string sextet PLACES PEOPLE, and for his cross-genre collaborations with Australian cult jazz quintet GODTET. He has also worked as a musical director, composer, arranger or collaborator with NGAIIRE, Sampa The Great, Bonniesongs, The Glider, Believe, CEREMONY, Earshift Orchestra, Microfiche and more. As a result of his individualistic voice and diverse output, Novak was awarded the prestigious Freedman Jazz Fellowship in 2019. Novak has been SIMA’s Artistic Director since 2025.

Jess is a guitarist, vocalist and composer who has performed with Katie Noonan, The Catholics, The Vampires, Jim Conway, Laura Jean and for the ABC’s Playschool. Her Commissions include The Australian Art Orchestra, visual artists Patricia Piccinini (National Gallery of Australia and Melbourne Rising) and Nell (Sydney Contemporary,) Sydney Festival (with Bree van Reyk for Big Hart,) and Luminescence Chamber Singers. Recently Jess extended her performance skills to include musical theatre, playing Luna in the premiere of new Australian children’s work The Girl Who Glows. In 2024, Jess was appointed Equity in Jazz Program Leader at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Jess has been the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival Program Director since 2025.

Nick has worked for over thirty years in the music industry and arts sector, initially as an A&R Manager at Mushroom Records, signing Sydney indie rockers, Pollyanna, then as Head of A&R and Labels at the inception of Inertia Music, managing breakthrough releases for Sigur Ros, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and The National, signing Ben Lee and directing the multi-platinum ‘Awake Is The New Sleep’ project. Nick developed artist and label rosters as Chief Of Operations at Fuse Music, and Managing Director of Other Tongues and Longtime Listener, working with The War On Drugs, The Hold Steady, You Am I, Gift Of Gab and Medeski Martin & Wood. Moving into the arts, Nick was General Manager of Ensemble Offspring and Aerialize, and Operations Manager at Bus Stop Films.

A Sydney-based saxophonist, clarinettist and composer, David has been passionate about music from an early age. Originally from Wollongong, he discovered a love for jazz during high school while studying at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. After earning a Bachelor of Music in Jazz from the Sydney Conservatorium, David became known for his versatility as a performer across diverse genres, playing and recording with acts including indie pop sensation, Lime Cordiale, and world music/reggae groups, Sub-Tribe and The Strides. An in-demand tenor saxophonist, David has shared the stage with jazz greats such as Tom Avgenicos, Nadje Noordhuis, Bobby Shew (USA), and Roger Manins (NZ.)

Clayton is an award-winning writer, Creative Director, festival creator and world-renowned improvising double bassist. He is the co-founder of the NOW now festival and Inner West Jazz Fest, which he also co-curates, and co-founder of ensembles, SOUND THE ALARM, BELIEVE, Splinter Orchestra and the Berlin-based Splitter Orkester. In addition to being a specialist fundraising copywriter, he continues to be an active participant in the global improvised music community with working bands based in Sydney, Berlin, Paris and the US. In his role at SIMA, Clayton brings over twenty-five years of experience in communications, aligned concert promotion, community advocacy and fundraising.

Hannah is an award-winning bassist and composer. She leads the acclaimed ensemble, Pharos, the Hannah James Trio and Quartet, and is a member of Volant, The Crawfish Po’Boys, Mingus Amongst Us, Andrew Robertson Big Band, Alma Orquestra, Energetic Zen Quintet, Divergence Jazz Ensemble and the award-winning Lady Sings it Better. Hannah has played with Don Burrows, Katie Noonan, Ingrid and Christine Jensen (USA,) Helen Sung (USA,) Lakecia Benjamin (USA,) Silke Eberhardt (GER,) Sandy Evans and Matt Keegan. She was the 2011 recipient of the esteemed Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and a multiple recipient of the ANU Undergraduate Scholarship. Hannah is the first full-time woman lecturer in Jazz Studies at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Nick is a trumpet player, composer and band leader, a founding member of ARIA Award-winning quartet, The Vampires, founding member of the Sydney-based reggae outfit, The Strides, and leader of his own groups, Garfish and The Nick Garbett Quintet. As a session trumpet player, Nick has performed, toured, written and recorded with artists such as Don Henley (USA,) Noel Gallagher, Jimmy Barnes, Bernard Fanning, The Presets, Tex Perkins, Lionel Loueke (BEN,) Angus Stone, Glenn Shorrock, Jessica Mauboy, Lisa Mitchell and The Panics. Nick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and was the recipient of the 2018 Freedman Jazz Fellowship.

Shane has been documenting live jazz for over two decades. His earliest SIMA assignment was the 2006 Jazz:NOW series at the Sydney Opera House, and he has since contributed extensively to SIMA’s photographic archives, including six Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festivals (2015, 2021–2025). His intuitive approach and strong connection with artists guides him in translating sound into exciting visual representations, reframing how the music looks. With years of experience documenting performances, creative communities, and cultural events, Shane brings both technical excellence and genuine passion to his craft. He is committed to celebrating and elevating Sydney’s improvised music scene through compelling and authentic imagery.