James O’Brien has been appointed the new Program Director at ABC 702 Sydney, replacing Angie Nelson, who was acting in the position.

Manager, Roger Summerill, has announced the changes to staff in a memo saying:

I am pleased to advise you that James O’Brien has been appointed Program Director for 702.

James is currently acting in the position of Local Radio Manager Western Australia.

James brings to the position much experience in Local Radio having presented programs in Renmark, Wagga Wagga, Canberra as well as the NSW Statewide Drive program. He has been Acting RPM in a number of our stations,
as Acting PD for the Northern Territory, as well as Acting Editor Network Local Radio.

In 2002 and 2003, James acted for a period as PD for 702.

I am sure this announcement will be welcomed by the team at 702 and by the wider Local Radio community.

Angie Nelson will be pursuing other opportunities within Local Radio.

On behalf of the team at 702 and myself, I want to record our thanks to Angie for the way in which she has carried out the PD role at 702 this year. 2004 has been one of
the most successful years for the station. Her valuable contribution has been a significant factor to that success.

Growing up in Lismore, NSW, James’s interest in radio began early. During his high school years, he was a volunteer at the local community radio station, 2NCR-FM and worked part-time at the commercial radio station, 2LM.

After high school, James moved to Brisbane where he studied at Griffith University and worked part-time at a supermarket.

His first paid job in radio was 2WEB, Bourke, Western NSW. “Moving to Bourke was an amazing experience. At first, my friends thought I’d gone mad, moving to such a remote location. However, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I made some good friends there”, he says.

Before landing the role of presenter of Statewide Drive in New South Wales, James also worked at ABC stations in Renmark (SA), Wagga Wagga (NSW) and Canberra (ACT).

In the last few years, James O’Brien has also performed a number of management jobs in the ABC in centres such as Lismore, Wagga Wagga, Darwin, Sydney and as the National Editor for ABC Local Radio. He is currently enjoying the challenge of managing Local Radio in WA.