The Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) is pleased to announce the appointment of AYO alumnus Mathisha Panagoda to its Board of Directors.
A former cellist and music educator, Mathisha participated in 19 AYO programs between 2004 and 2014. He is a Partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley, where he specialises in complex litigation, governance, risk management and child safeguarding.
Mathisha advises educational institutions, faith-based organisations, charities, disability providers and insurers across Australia and the United Kingdom on sensitive and high-profile matters involving governance, compliance, investigations and institutional accountability. Recognised as a leader in his field, he has extensive experience representing organisations before courts, tribunals, Royal Commissions and regulatory bodies. He is known for his practical and strategic approach to navigating complex legal and governance challenges while maintaining a strong focus on culture, integrity and community outcomes.
Mathisha has a longstanding commitment to the arts and not-for-profit sector. Since 2015, he has served on a number of not-for-profit boards and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Gondwana Choirs. He is passionate about expanding access to high-quality arts education and creating opportunities for young people to thrive through music.
“We are delighted to welcome Mathisha back to the AYO community as a Board Director,” said AYO Chair, Scott Harrison. “Mathisha’s unique skill set – along with his personal experience of AYO – will continue to enhance the capabilities of our organisation.”
As a Director of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Mathisha brings significant expertise in governance, strategy, risk management and organisational leadership, together with a deep appreciation of the transformative role music can play in young people’s lives.
Alongside his legal career, Mathisha has maintained a distinguished connection to music. He has performed as a cellist in many of Australia’s leading professional symphony orchestras, taught cello and musicianship for more than two decades and is a recipient of both a Symphony Australia Orchestral Fellowship and the Musica Viva Rising Stars Award.
Internationally, Mathisha is an alumnus of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme and performed as a cellist with the Aldeburgh World Orchestra. He has attended artist residencies at Canada’s Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, is the founder and former Artistic Director of Sydney Camerata Chamber Orchestra, and has performed internationally throughout Asia, Europe and North America.