About Jess Henderson

For the past 15 years I have worked in a variety of creative capacities within the music, entertainment and arts industries – from publicity to band management, graphic design to publishing – I am passionate about the creative journey and working with clients to best meet their creative goals.

I started my musical endeavours in my late teens, playing bass (and occasionally trumpet and sax) in local bands in Canberra. When I finished year 12 I enrolled in a Diploma of Contemporary Music at the Canberra Institute of Technology (majoring in Music Business), which I completed between 1997 and 1998.

Towards the end of 1998 I had a chance meeting with Black Yak Management’s Kim Thomas – Manager of The Whitlams. It was good timing as The Whitlams were in the midst of their Eternal Nightcap success and had just been nominated for seven ARIA Awards.

I completed four weeks work placement in the Black Yak office in Sydney but then never returned to Canberra – they took me on as a bit of a girl Friday and for the next 3 1/2 years I had so many amazing experiences working with all of Black Yak’s artists – including The Whitlams, Nitocris, iOTA and Pre_Shrunk.

NB: one of my (sometimes) hidden talents is screaming – listen out for my contribution at around the 22 second mark of the above Nitocris clip!

Nitocris were my main project at Black Yak, so when they decided to take an “indefinite and possibly permanent break” in late 2001, it felt like the right time to move on. For the next two years I worked mainly as a freelance publicist, continuing my relationship with Black Yak by working on a couple of Whitlams and iOTA tours and also taking on a couple of management projects of my own – Sydney band Fyreflyes (featuring members of Nitocris) and Central Coast band Field Day.

The years between then and now have involved some overseas travel, a variety of contract positions, getting married and becoming a mother to an amazing little boy!

Since 2009 I have been working for the National Folk Festival in Canberra, firstly as their HR & Volunteer Manager and most recently as their Design & Publications Manager.

Since 2009 I have been working for the National Folk Festival in Canberra, firstly as their HR & Volunteer Manager and most recently as their Design & Publications Manager – a position I still hold.

I am also a Director at Fairplay Entertainment on the NSW Central Coast.

To contact me please email: jess (at) jesshenderson (dot) com