Nicholas Pickard is one of Australia’s leading government relations, public affairs and communications specialists working across the creative and cultural industries.

Nicholas currently heads up public affairs and government relations for APRA AMCOS, Australasia’s music rights organisation representing over 108,000 songwriters, composers and publishers. He attracted the development of the first ever multi-million dollar contemporary music policies from both the Federal Government and Opposition prior to the 2019 election and helped to spearhead a campaign for government support of the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to this he was the Director Corporate Affairs for the Copyright Agency where he created a major campaign for creators and the content industries against sweeping and damaging proposed changes to copyright.

A former journalist, theatre critic and ministerial adviser with experience in London, Canberra and Sydney, Nicholas was central to the team that created, devised and launched Australia’s national cultural policy – Creative Australia.

Nicholas is Chair of the Australian Society of Authors, a board member of Regional Arts NSW, Music Australia and a member of the NSW Government’s 24-hour economy industry advisory group, music festivals roundtable and festivals artform advisory board.