SYN is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the SYN membership. The SYN Board is responsible for making strategic decisions for SYN and ensuring that the organisation is financially and legally compliant. They represent SYN’s volunteers' interests and are elected at SYN’s annual AGM.

 

Adam Farrugia
Acting President  

Adam joined the SYN Board in 2025, one year after becoming involved with SYN. He serves as the Executive Producer of Housemates, one of SYN’s flagship shows, which he revitalised and relaunched in early 2025.

His work demonstrates a deep dedication to community broadcasting and a drive to support and empower emerging young creatives.

 

 

 

 

 

John Cheong-Holdaway
Treasurer

John Cheong-Holdaway was appointed Treasurer of SYN in January 2025. He is an independent musician, multi-instrumentalist, and economist with extensive experience across sectors, countries, and social contexts, focused on driving social and policy change.

John is the Creative Producer at Gamelan DanAnda and is a member of intergenerational punk band Riot Baby, Sundanese quartet Sekar Kidul, dangdut-koplo band Yarra Irama, among other projects.

Prior to his work in the arts, John spent nearly 20 years as a policy economist and strategic advisor in energy, infrastructure, and natural resources across Australia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and the broader Indo-Pacific, advising governments, multilateral institutions, and private companies on major projects, policy, and strategy.

 

 

Jon King
Ordinary Member

Jon was elected to the SYN Board in November 2024. Jon is a former music director/assistant, trainer and broadcaster between 2006-9, and more recently awards judge and mentor.

SYN helped redirect Jon’s career from the public service into community media, leadership and fundraising. Jon looks forward to helping SYN diversify and grow revenue to be reinvested in current and future generations of SYN volunteers.

 

 

 

Kurt Eckardt
Ordinary Member

Kurt joined the SYN Board in November 2024. A long-time community radio tragic, he began his first radio show at age 14 and went on to spend five years in the 2000s as both a staff member and on-air volunteer at Sydney’s 2SER on Gadigal Land.

Now based in Naarm/Melbourne, Kurt is the Marketing and Events Manager at PBS. He brings extensive experience in event planning and management, fundraising, membership, and sponsorship.

A committed listener and supporter of SYN, Kurt recognises the importance of a thriving, youth-led independent media organisation in our city. He hopes to contribute by helping the station develop both one-off and recurring fundraising events, while also drawing on his experience across other community stations to strengthen SYN’s membership for long-term sustainability.

 

Declan Kelly
Ordinary Member

Declan Kelly is a strategic leader with a background spanning community and commercial media, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. He is currently Executive Officer of the Connellan Airways Trust, where he oversees funding and capacity-building initiatives that support education, health, and innovation across remote Australia.

Declan previously served as Head of Development at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, where he led national fundraising, partnerships, and impact projects, helping secure vital resources for stations across the country. His earlier experience also includes work at commercial and community radio stations SEN, ARN, JOY, 2XX and others, equipping him with a well-rounded view of the media landscape.

Declan is passionate about equitable access to media, place-based funding, and supporting young people to tell their own stories. He joined the SYN Board in December 2024.
 

Dallas Hall
Co-opted Member

Dallas joined the SYN Board in February 2025 and currently serves as Chair of the People & Culture Subcommittee.

With extensive experience in people and culture across a range of industries — including not-for-profit and community-based organisations — Dallas brings a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive workplaces. She is passionate about helping SYN thrive by attracting, nurturing, and empowering emerging talent across the organisation.

 

 

                 

 Jennifer Hunt
Youth Member

Jennifer joined SYN in 2024 and was elected to the Board in October 2025. She currently serves as Executive Producer of SYN’s flagship program, Art Smitten, where she has played a key role in the show’s significant growth and development alongside her team.

Jennifer works in arts education as the Assistant Educator at Monash University Museum of Art. Her passion for fostering creativity in young people aligns with SYN’s mission, and she is dedicated to amplifying authentic youth voices and perspectives within the organisation.

 

 

Emma Yue 
Youth Member

Emma joined the SYN Board in 2025, following her start at the station as an on-air host for The Hoist and her two-year term as Music Director. As an artist and musician, she is deeply passionate about discovering emerging talent and championing creative opportunities for young people. Emma is committed to strengthening SYN’s long-term impact on Melbourne’s media landscape and helping the station grow as a sustainable, reliable voice for youth.

 

                                                            

                 

Do you have a question for the board? Email Acting President Adam Farrugia via board@syn.org.au.