Governance, Board & Financials | AChA Charity Sydney

Governance & Transparency

Australian Christian Arts Limited is an ACNC-registered charity. Here you'll find every policy, our board, our financials, and our legal structure — all publicly available.

Legal & Registration Details

Full legal name

Australian Christian Arts Limited

ABN

31 644 225 758

ACN

644 225 758

Entity type

Public Company Limited by Guarantee

Charity status

ACNC Registered Charity · DGR via ACF

Fundraising authority (CFN)

27267 · Valid 20/09/2024–19/09/2027

Regulatory oversight

ASIC · ACNC · NSW Fair Trading

ABN note

ABN held previously by Exalt Collective — shared charitable purpose.

ACNC Registered Charity

Australian Christian Arts Limited is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Our charity status, financials, governance, and compliance record are publicly accessible on the ACNC Charity Register.

Our Charity Name History

2024 Transition

In 2024, Australian Christian Arts took on the charitable status previously held by Exalt Collective, maintaining the same ABN and ACN. This was made possible by the shared charitable purpose and mission of the two organisations.

Continuity of Purpose

This continuity ensures that the important work begun under Exalt Collective continues seamlessly under the Australian Christian Arts banner, serving the Christian arts community with renewed vision and commitment. Our registration details, governance standards and public accountability remain unchanged throughout.

Organisation Structure

AChA

Australian Christian Arts

Master charity and parent organisation

AChO

Australian Christian Orchestra

Est. 2022 · Symphony orchestra

AChC

Australian Christian Choir

Est. 2024 · Vocal ensemble

AChP

Australian Christian Productions

Est. 2023 · Events & production

AChE

Australian Christian Events

Event management arm

AChYO

Australian Christian Youth Orchestra

Launching 2026 · Ages 13–19

AChYC

Australian Christian Youth Choir

Launching 2026 · Ages 13–19

Australian Christian Orchestra performing at a Sydney concert

Three-Layer Oversight Model

Layer 1

Board of Directors

Strategic direction, financial accountability, welfare & risk. At least two board members maintain 24/7 bank account access. Leon Shohmelian chairs the Annual General Meeting. The board bears ultimate liability for welfare and child protection.

Leon Shohmelian · Dr Zachary McPherson · Ryan Gilpin

Layer 2

Executive Committees

Operational management for each ensemble. Orchestra Committee active. Choir Committee forming 2026. Youth Executive and Youth Welfare Committees in formation.

Orchestra Exec · Choir Exec · Youth Exec (forming) · Youth Welfare (forming)

Layer 3

Core Teams

Day-to-day delivery. Ensemble senior and core teams, repertoire team, production senior and core team, and AChA-wide senior team.

Orchestra Senior · Choir Senior · Youth Senior · Repertoire · Production · AChA Senior

Board of Directors 2025–26

Our board of directors: the people accountable to you.

Ryan Gilpin

Founder & CEO

Pianist, composer, and creative director with 15+ years spanning orchestral performance, worship leading, production design, and large-scale event coordination across Australia and the UK. Background in pastoral family life, theology and ministry training. Founded the Australian Christian Orchestra in 2022 and established Australian Christian Arts Limited as the parent charity.

Areas of responsibility

Creative direction
Strategy & vision
Community building
Music production

Leon Shohmelian

Board Member · AGM Chair

Principal Solicitor of Shohmelian Legal, a Sydney boutique firm. Holds a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws, and Master of Laws. Approximately 20 years of experience in commercial practice, property law, retirement-village and aged-care law, estates, and corporate governance. Director and Vice-President of a local chamber of commerce. Focuses on community and educational initiatives, transparency, integrity, and accessible legal advice.

Areas of responsibility

Corporate governance
Commercial law
Property & estates
Organisational compliance

Dr Zachary Edward McPherson

Board Member

Medical doctor and researcher specialising in ophthalmology and retinal studies, affiliated with the University of Newcastle. Published multiple papers on retinal function, laboratory medicine, and translational health research. Brings a perspective on health, safety, inclusion, accessibility, and pastoral care to the board.

Areas of responsibility

Health & safety oversight
Research & evidence
Inclusion & accessibility
Pastoral care

The Board's Role

The Board meets regularly to review operations, discuss strategic initiatives, and ensure prudent decision-making while upholding our foundational values, particularly as a founder-led entity.

01 · Governance & Strategic Direction

The Board approves all policies, major organisational changes, annual budgets, major contracts, and partnership agreements, providing strategic guidance aligned with our mission and charitable purposes.

02 · Financial Accountability

Ensuring financial integrity, at least two board members maintain 24/7 access to AChA bank accounts for real-time monitoring. The Board rigorously reviews budgets, financial statements, and yearly reports to ensure responsible stewardship.

03 · Welfare, Risk & Compliance

The Board assumes ultimate liability for all welfare and child protection matters, reviews risk management frameworks, ensures Working With Children Check compliance, and oversees incident reporting and safeguarding across all programs.

04 · Annual General Meeting

Leon Shohmelian chairs the AGM and fields questions independently, providing appropriate separation between founder leadership and governance accountability, reinforcing transparency and best practice.

Company Limited by Guarantee

Limited Liability

Members are only liable for a nominal amount if the company is wound up, protecting individuals whilst maintaining accountability.

No Share Capital

We operate with members as guarantors rather than shareholders, reflecting our not-for-profit status and mission-focused approach.

Governance Compliance

Full compliance with the Corporations Act 2001 and ACNC governance standards, overseen by the Board.

Regular Reporting

Annual financial reports and Information Statements submitted to ACNC, maintaining transparency with stakeholders and the public.

Contact the board: board@australianchristianarts.com

"Governance & strategic direction, financial accountability, welfare, risk & compliance."
Board of Directors mandate

Policies & Reports

Full transparency — every document public.

Annual Financial Report 2025

Our 2025 annual financial report, audited and publicly available. Total income $198,754 · Net surplus $4,226 · Spending: 34.34% Contractors & Production · 22.06% Wages · 10.14% Venue Hire · 9.43% Administration · 8.3% Marketing.

View Financial Report

Child Safety Policy

AChA is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children in our programs. All leaders hold current Working With Children Checks. Youth and adult programs are completely separate. Our child safety policy sets out our commitment, reporting procedures, and safeguarding practices.

Read Child Safety Policy

Statement of Faith

We are an ecumenical community that affirms the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381 AD). Our statement of faith unites Christians across denominations around the essentials of the gospel. We hold 66 books of Old and New Testaments as our common scriptural foundation.

Read Statement of Faith