Dr Nicole Canham

Monash University, Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance

Chelsea, VIC

Churchill Fellow, Dr Nicole Canham holds a PhD in musicians' self-directed career development and completed a Graduate Diploma in Careers Education and Development at RMIT in 2019. She specialises in group and individual careers education and counselling for precarious work, early career transitions and coaching in persuasive communication skills. Nicole has worked across the performing arts sector for 25 years and has experience in a wide range of roles across the arts sector. She is an award-winning and versatile musician who is committed to creating transformative arts and educational experiences, and to building new audiences for art music. She was the inaugural Artistic Director of the Canberra International Festival, with her term culminating in a 10-fold increase in attendance and nominations as state finalist for Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year, 2007. In 2020, Nicole joined the faculty of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Monash University, as Wind Program Coordinator and Context Studies Coordinator. In this role, she focuses on performance, teaching and scholarship, which has become an integral aspect of her artistic practice. Nicole has presented her research on musicians' career development at leading conferences around the world. Her new book on transformational approaches to musicians’ career development, Preparing Musicians for Precarious Work: Transformative approaches to music careers education was published by Routledge in late 2021. She is currently a facilitator for the international Work Intervention Network's workshop program, which is led by Dr David Blustein. Nicole is an Advanced Practitioner, Hope Action Theory and Practice and an accredited Career Voyage practitioner.