The Academy Executive Team

Roger Corbett – General Manager

Roger Corbett has been the General Manager of The Academy for well over a decade, but his history with the organisation goes way back.  Prior to being appointed as GM, Roger took on the roles of Academy Director, Group Leader, Guest Songwriter and Songwriting and Instrumental Masterclass Tutor, which he started doing in 1998.  Since then, Roger has trained some of the country music industry’s most successful artists. “It has been a wonderful experience to train these emerging artists and then see them take on the world.   It’s what keeps me interested in The Academy project, and hopefully it will continue long after I’m not around.”

Roger has also been an integral member of the multi-award winning, iconic Aussie band The Bushwackers for 40+ years and has been attending the Tamworth Country Music Festival since 1981.  The Bushwackers have released 27 albums, won three Golden Guitars, three MO Awards, have four gold records and were inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown in January 2021.  Boasting a touring and recording career spanning over 50 years, The Bushwackers continue to perform to sell-out crowds whenever they go.

Lyn Bowtell – Artistic Director

Lyn Bowtell’s musical journey began in the Country Music Clubs of the Darling Downs and has led her to stages all over Australia and around the world, as well as landing her a spot on national television on Channel Nine’s ‘The Voice’ Australia (Season Six).  Lyn first came to prominence as a songwriter and singer for multi-award winning Country Pop trio Bella.  Since then, she has released five critically acclaimed solo albums including her latest offering ‘Paper Cuts’ in 2025, and in addition to her stellar solo career, Lyn makes up one third of Australian Folk Country super-group, Bennett, Bowtell & Urquhart.

Lyn Bowtell is a Toyota Star Maker winner, MO Award winner, APRA Song of The Year finalist, ten-time Golden Guitar winner and 2022 Hands of Fame Inductee.  Lyn has had a long and positive involvement with The Academy, from her time as a former student through to her many years as Artistic Director, the role she has been in since 2016.

Samantha Taylor – Administration Manager/Student Coordinator/Social Media Manager

Director of Taylor Made Artist Services, Sam saw a niche market where she could combine her love of music and her ten years as an Executive Assistant at her local council, to carve out a role for herself within the music industry.  By applying her organisational and administrative skills to assist artists with the day-to-day running of their businesses, her successful business was born.  As well as The Academy, Sam’s clients include Fanny Lumsden, The Bushwackers, Shane Nicholson, Montgomery Church and emerging artist, Rory Phillips.  She has volunteered her time and expertise to her local festival in various roles such as Chairperson, Entertainment Coordinator and Publicity Officer, since 2013.  In 2021, Sam was announced as a finalist in the NSW Murray Riverina Business Awards, after taking out the Outstanding Business Leader Award at her local Tumut Region Business Awards, and was also named the Tumut Lions Club Citizen of the Year 2022.

Sam has been working for The Academy since July 2019 but actually started her journey with us in 2016 (and again in 2018) by attending our parent course as part of the Junior Academy, alongside her talented son.

The Academy Support Staff

Dobe Newton OAM – Music Business Coordinator 

Dobe Newton has been a music industry professional for over 50 years and is the current President and Chair of the Country Music Association of Australia, a body he helped establish in 1997. For decades he has represented and advocated for contemporary music, and the country genre in particular, to public and private sector agencies and policy makers and presented at numerous domestic and international forums and events.

A singer, ‘bush’ percussionist (lagerphone, spoons, bones, tin whistle, bodhran) and songwriter, he is best known as frontman for Australia’s pioneering, award-winning band The Bushwackers – celebrating their 55th year of continuous performance in 2025, and as the co-author of the iconic ‘I Am Australian’ written in 1987 with Bruce Woodley from The Seekers.

Formally qualified as a historian and teacher (Sydney University/University of WA), Dobe joined the staff of Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE in 1993 to help establish Australia’s first tertiary Music Business qualification and, as course coordinator and teacher, has continued to teach a variety of music business subjects at Certificate, Diploma and Degree level (RMIT, Victoria University, NMIT, Melbourne Polytechnic).

In 2012 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for “services to the performing arts as performer and advocate”.

Rebecca Gracie – Publicist

Rebecca Gracie of The Country Journo has been a country music journalist for more than 20 years, a publicist for seven years and also works as an artist manager.  She served as the entertainment, country music, defence and a general news reporter at The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth for 13 years, has written for Country Music Capital News for more than a decade and has also written for Country Update Magazine.

Rebecca has also worked for festivals including the Gympie Music Muster, Country on Keppel, Lighthouse Country and Live on the Lachlan in various roles.

Rebecca is a former board member of the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA) and has been actively involved in the Golden Guitar Awards for many years.

Tracy Beveridge – Official Photographer/Administration Assistant

Tracy Beveridge has over 15 years of experience behind the camera, capturing weddings, family portraits, model shoots, and business content. Her journey began in the TV and fashion industries in New York and London before she pursued her passion for photography. 

Together with her son, Josh Beveridge, she formed Roaming Creatives in 2022, with a focus on supporting businesses, artist and musicians, by capturing their unique stories with creativity and authenticity.  Together, they have created music videos predominantly in the country music space, many which have featured on CMT, and Tracy has been behind the lens for The Academy in an official capacity since 2024.  However, her association with The Academy has been ongoing since 2019 when she first attended the Junior parent course with her talented children, and she has captured many graduation concerts for us in a volunteer capacity over the years.

Vanessa Byrnes – Cultural Advisor (Yorta Yorta Nation) off campus

As leader in Aboriginal Education and Performing Arts at St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Nathalia, Vanessa brings 20 years’ experience in mentoring and nurturing students.  Vanessa has a comprehensive knowledge around OHS and Cultural Protocols to allow The Academy to be an inclusive safe environment for all students and staff.  Whilst Vanessa no longer joins us on-campus, she provides regular advice around working with First Nations peoples and is readily available for consultations when needed.

Additional Staff

In addition to our regular support staff, we also engage a rotating roster of Group Leaders (Tutors), Musicians, Interns (past Academy graduates), Guest Songwriters, Masterclass Instructors and Special Guest Presenters.