Our Board

Trustees and kaitiaki.

A diverse board with experience across music education, law, human resources, arts governance, live events, and business strategy — bringing the skills and networks to grow the Trust's impact and ensure strong governance.

Meet our board Contact the Trust
Colleagues around a table in conversation
Meet the board

The people behind the Trust.

We Are Loud Charitable Trust is a registered charity (CC number pending). The Trust deed is available on request — contact us for a copy.

Jo Kelsey
Meet

Jo Kelsey (She/Her/They/Them)

Studio Director, Singing & Piano Teacher

Jo Kelsey is the director of We Are Loud Music School, where she is dedicated to empowering musicians of all ages to explore their creativity, build confidence, foster community, and improve mental health through the power of music. Jo founded We Are Loud as an inclusive and safe space for musicians, educators, students, and whanau, particularly those from the rainbow, disabled, and neurodiverse communities, ensuring everyone has access to opportunities to grow and thrive. With 15 years of experience as a music educator, Jo holds a BMus (Hons) in Vocal Performance and a Diploma in Music Teaching, along with extensive studies in psychology, coaching, performance anxiety, and neurodiversity. As a voice teacher, Jo is passionate about helping others discover their unique voice in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. Previously a performing and recording musician in both London and New Zealand, Jo has experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the music industry as a young female artist. This motivates her to educate and empower the young people at We Are Loud, creating a more inclusive and equitable space for all musicians.

Teaches
Piano, Singing, Rock Band, Choir
Qualifications
BMus (Hons) Vocal Performance; Diploma in Music Teaching; Committee member, NZ Association of Singing Teachers
Experience
15+ years performing , 12+ years teaching
Jocelyn Visser
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Jocelyn Visser

Chair

Jocelyn Visser is an HR all-rounder, dubbed Chief Problem Solver by her clients, with a proven track record of making HR easy for people managers and businesses. Jocelyn is the Director of Compass Consultancy and works as a consultant across New Zealand. As a Chartered Member of HRNZ she stays abreast of best practice, thought leadership, and changes to the employment landscape. Jocelyn's approach to advice balances co-design and holistic practices with commercial acumen and pragmatism — leading to an experience which ensures teams get the results they need while also engaging workers. As a member of the We Are Loud choir and a voice and piano student, Jocelyn brings her business acumen and love of music and the We Are Loud kaupapa together in her role as Chair.

Qualifications
Chartered Member, HRNZ; Director, Compass Consultancy
Dr Jane Kelsey
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Dr Jane Kelsey

Board Member

Dr Jane Kelsey is a retired law professor from the University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau with a strong commitment to social justice and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, in line with the Trust's values and objectives. As a former trade union president and chair of a number of community organisations, she brings experience in governance and a network of contacts who are keen to support the Trust in achieving its goals. As the aunt of Jo Kelsey, Jane has seen how We Are Loud has changed the lives of many young people (and some older ones) in West Auckland through its people-centred and inclusive approach to music education since the studio was established five years ago. In the past, many of these students have benefited from informal scholarships and support with instruments. The Charitable Trust seeks to build on those initiatives and create a sustainable platform to support students who would otherwise be unable to access these opportunities, and Jane is delighted to help contribute to making it a success.

Qualifications
Retired Professor of Law, University of Auckland / Waipapa Taumata Rau
Leea Lamatoa
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Leea Lamatoa

Board Member

Leea Lamatoa is a dedicated music educator based in Tamaki Makaurau. She is a vocal and songwriting teacher at the University of Auckland, various high schools, and a private vocal coach for professional artists. She has a passion for helping people discover the weird and wonderful things the voice can do, and for demystifying its inner workings. Leea also works as the Regional Director of Tamaki Makaurau for Girls Rock Aotearoa, working to empower young women, trans, and non-binary youth through music.

Qualifications
Vocal and Songwriting Teacher, University of Auckland; Regional Director (Tamaki Makaurau), Girls Rock Aotearoa
Steve Wheadon
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Steve Wheadon

Board Member

Steve has worked in the music and events industry for over 25 years, with a diverse range of roles and on some of the world's smallest and largest shows. With a history in club promoting that grew into working on Olympic Games and some of the largest stadium tours in recent years, Steve brings a breadth of expertise when it comes to how the industry works. He is currently Vice President of Production and Logistics for Live Nation Australasia and splits his time between Australia and New Zealand, whilst currently studying psychotherapy in Auckland. Steve believes a person-centred approach to teaching, development, and management results in happier and more productive spaces for people to learn and grow.

Qualifications
Vice President of Production and Logistics, Live Nation Australasia; 25+ years in music and events industry
James Littlewood
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James Littlewood

Board Member

James has a broad career spanning all sectors of the creative arts as well as the corporate world in marketing, research, and finance. He has directed dozens of films, operas, and plays, and was the director of the Going West literary festival from 2019 to 2023. He is a published poet and travel writer and, as a poet, provides lyrics and vocals in the spoken word/guitar-noise act Mono Watt, releasing their first album in late 2025. In the business world, James has conducted a wide range of development projects integrating corporate strategy with end-user experiences. In governance, he has experience on numerous boards as both trustee and company director and shareholder. He lives in West Auckland with his bike and his HOP card.

Qualifications
Director, Going West literary festival (2019-2023); Published poet and travel writer
Meet

Phil Vinall (He / Him)

Board Member

Phil brings over two decades of experience spanning brand strategy, business technology, and AI consulting. Having led design and development studios producing work for both local and international clients, he now runs an AI consulting practice helping businesses find meaningful ways to leverage AI while upskilling their people. Phil holds a Bachelor of Business and Computing Systems. A We Are Loud parent, he joined the board to support the Trust's kaupapa — bringing skills in compelling storytelling, brand development, and building custom tools and systems to help the Trust grow its impact.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Computing Systems