ASC Team

Lisa Butler

Born on the NSW Central Coast into a musical family, Lisa wrote poetry and learned piano from an early age. She started writing songs (words and music) at age 16. Singing lessons followed during the teenage years with a view to a singing career but writing songs, and in particular lyrics, became her passion.

Largely self-taught, Lisa writes well constructed, thought-provoking lyrics that demonstrate a deep understanding of human nature whilst maintaining commercial appeal. Experimenting with different styles and challenging the status quo are a favourite pastime resulting in interesting, meaning-filled, stories-in-song.

Working in public relations and promotions in the hospitality and entertainment industries as well as general reception and office work gave Lisa the opportunity to gain knowledge in networking, communication and business procedures which now stands her in good stead, as she manages the administration, advertising and public relations for Imaginotion Songs®.

Lisa worked part time (1994-97) as Personal/Production Assistant for international cabaret star, Jenifer Green. This provided invaluable experience and awarded her the opportunity to make excellent contacts within the industry as well as gain further understanding of the 'ins and outs' of the music business.

In November 1999, Lisa established Imaginotion Songs with song writing partner, Chris Headford. This song writing business, based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, provides original, commercial music to local and overseas recording and publishing companies, recording artists and bands. Genres include Pop, Rock, Adult Contemporary, and Country. The Imaginotion Songs website can be found at www.imaginotionsongs.com

Lisa runs the Imaginotion Songs Music Industry Networking Group (ISMING), which has around 200 members. She is the editor of the Imagi-Notes Magazine (imagi-notes.imaginotionsons.net), a bi-monthly magazine for musicians, songwriters, singers, producers and music industry executives, and she assists with information about songwriting, music law, and the music industry as a business, among other things. Lisa set up ISMING in March 2000 as a way to encourage singers and bands to the Imaginotion Songs website, but it has grown and developed into much more. Proud of the reputation that this group now has, and with an active membership, Lisa gladly puts a lot of her time and effort into making it bigger and better, and it is constantly growing and changing with the needs of the members. The ISMING website can be found at www.imaginotionsongs.net.

Guided by her passion for songwriting and songwriters, Lisa is now in the midst of organising the largest and most comprehensive songwriter’s conference ever to be staged in Australia. Aptly named the Australian Songwriters Conference, this four-day event will encompass all aspects of the craft and business of songwriting. Lisa hopes the success of the inaugural 2008 Australian Songwriters Conference in Sydney will lead to it becoming an annual event.

Lisa Butler is a member of the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA), Australian Songwriters Association (ASA), and the Australian Copyright Council.

Eliza Warner

Eliza Warner is our wonderful bookkeeper here at the Australian Songwriters Conference. With a career spanning 25 years, she has worked in some very diverse roles with small business, corporate and multinational companies.

Eliza has a Diploma in Commerce (Accounting), and her experience in Accounting, Administration, Bookkeeping and Credit Management make her an important and integral part of our ASC team.

As Financial and Management Accounting Officer at varying stages of the inception of BT Australasia (British Telecom), Eliza reported directly to the Chief Financial Officer of the group. She has worked as Credit Supervisor at CorpTel and later, took up the role of Credit Manager at RSL COM Australia where she was head of the Credit Department. She was responsible for approximately 10,000 accounts with an annual turnover in excess of $120 million dollars.

We think she’ll do nicely!

For more information have a look at the Eliza's Bookkeeping website.

George Barbas

George Barbas heads up the ‘Business End’ of the Australian Songwriters Conference.

An integral part of the ASC Team, George and his staff at The Lean Thinking Company are making sure that the financial side of the event is all under control. It's something George is really good at, having held Executive Roles with the Financial Services Industry before launching his own company.

George is an Alumni of the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney and has a passion for leading large teams, developing strategic campaigns and executing industry solutions.

Highly respected within business circles, George has successfully assisted many of the top 500 Australian Corporate entities. He founded The Lean Thinking Company in November 2006 and has the ability to very quickly sum up the situation and carefully design an implementation plan that guarantees success.

George and his amazing staff are making sure that the ASC:

• Has a robust and well structured business plan
• Introduces as many initiatives as we can to bring the best services and prices for a great return, ensuring the future of the ASC and the ongoing support we will provide to the Australian songwriting community
• Maintains a lean and efficient operation
• Establishes solid foundations from which to grow
• Manages increased cash flow and good working capital
• Receives the best possible supplier price
• Employs happy staff
• Operates with minimal business waste
• Increases our market share.

This might all sound pretty boring to us creative types, but because we have George and The Lean Thinking Company on our side, our business will grow and prosper - which means we will be able to support YOU well into the future.

The great news is that The Lean Thinking Company thinks we are kind of cool, and not only do they want to help us help you, they want to do what they can to help Australian songwriters and musicians break out of the financial pits we often find ourselves in and assist with financial planning, business building, cash management – you know, all the stuff we know is important but aren’t generally good at figuring out for ourselves. Cool!

The testimonials at The Lean Thinking Company website speak for themselves, so check them out and call George and his team at The Lean Thinking Company on 03 9509 2089 or email on enquiries@thinklean.com.au.

Christine Butler

Christine Butler studied both music and environmental science at university. She has worked since 1990 in event management, fundraising and campaigning during the 1990s for social change groups such as Greenpeace, Open Family, Commonground, Amnesty International, and The Quadriplegic Association in Melbourne.

In 1995 she moved to Sydney and soon after created Christine Butler Management, working as a business consultant for groups and artists in the music industry. Tasks involved being event organiser, publicist, photographer, grant/funding coordinator and adviser.

In 2001 she joined the Clever Event Company to run events for Parramatta Council, then worked during 2004 with Heaven and Earth Systems, coordinating The Organic Industry Royal Easter Show Stand, and the bi-annual NSW Cooperatives Conference in Sydney.

She is currently the editor of Action Change E-magazine, and continues to give her time to organising both charity fundraising events and more commercial ventures.