Amanda’s career commenced as a Radio Journalist whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts (Media) at RMIT Melbourne, Australia.  Her interviews with leading entertainment industry personalities led to a move to London in 1981 to work with Dire Straits as a rookie “press collector”.  Several years in the UK were followed by a Masters Degree Course in Film theory at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, left incomplete by her impatience to return to Australia and start her own business. 

In 1984 Amanda developed a short-lived publicity company before being enticed to Mushroom Records by Michael Gudinski, where she remained for eleven years in positions as varied as National Publicist, Label Manager and A & R Manager – signing a young Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan along the way.  During this time, Amanda co-managed under Michael Gudinski Management Jimmy Barnes and Deborah Conway. She co-founded Body Beat and Melodian Records with Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum, which signed Peter Andre and Jo Beth Taylor. She went on to manage the label’s first signing – Indecent Obsession – breaking into the International music and touring markets (including  ground breaking trips to South Africa) between 1990 – 1994. This included #1 records in 17 European and Asian markets and a Top 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

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In 1994 Amanda returned to live in London working under the banner of the newfound Mushroom UK as ‘MAP Management’.

‘FIRM HAND Management’ was founded as a theatrical agency on her return to Australia in 1996 and went on to represent 36 artists such as David Dixon, Michael Cormick, Stephen Heathcote and choreographer Kelley Abbey.

In 1997 Amanda took on the prestigious role of Casting Consultant to Cameron Mackintosh P/L for the new musical “RENT”.  Incorporating her wide music industry knowledge, along with Chris Green and Bernie Telsey ,she auditioned 3,726 people to fill 24 roles.  In 1998 Amanda also cast “Fiddler On The Roof” (featuring Topol) and “Countdown – the Musical” ; in 1999 “Jolson” for Jon Nicholls Productions, “Fame The Musical” for Jacobsen Entertainment and the Fox Studios Backlot cast (with Director Barrie Kosky ) for Bazmark (Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin ) Productions.

In 2001 Amanda cast the following musicals -  “Always Patsy Cline” (Majestic Theatre Co.), “Hair” (IMG/Harry M Miller), “Oh! What a Night” for Majestic Theatre Co., “Oliver!” for IMG/Cameron Mackintosh PL and “Cabaret” for Bazmark/IMG.

2002 commenced with the co-production of  “I Should Be So Lucky”, a Kylie musical in Mamma Mia style showcased at Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival. In Feb/March followed the pilot for the TV re-launch of Young Talent Time – titled “Evolution” devised by Vince del Tito in which Amanda appeared as a Judge and cast Chloe Lattanzi, Olivia Newton-John’s sixteen year old daughter as the host. Sadly this TV show never went to air as the ‘Idol’ brand was born at the same time !

Reunited with industry veteran Michael Chugg during the casting of ‘Hair’, Chuggi invited Amanda to co-Produce the enormously successful “Long Way to the Top” live Event featuring 30 of Australia’s top recording artists from the 1950’s-1970’s. Sharing production credit with Michael Chugg, Billy Thorpe and Jacobsen Entertainment, this event played to nearly a quarter of a million people and sold as many CD’s and DVD’s combined.

2003 saw a brief move back to hometown Melbourne. Amanda produced the Australian Idol Live Event for Michael Chugg Entertainment and TalentWorks. Under the company structure Caddman Enterprises she began the stage re-development of films ‘Alvin Purple’ and ‘Morning of the Earth’ – both properties musically written by her husband, Brian Cadd www.briancadd.com

Amanda has Executive Produced Brian’s albums -  ‘Cleanskin’, ‘Quietly Rusting ‘’Story of Sharky & The Caddman’, ‘Bulletproof’ and ‘Silver City’.

In 2005 Amanda Executive Produced the highly successful 10th anniversary tour of ‘Tap Dogs’ for MCE and Back Row Productions.  Amanda was original Casting Director for the musical adaptation of Academy Award winning film “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”  - to date it has played to over 6 million people worldwide and grossed over $550m.

After starting her television on camera career as ABC TV Countdown dancer in the late 1970’s, in 2006 Amanda was asked to take the screen again as a Judge on the 7 Networks music variety show  ‘It Takes Two “.  Always the brassy & opinionated one, Amanda was dubbed ‘the Simon Cowell of Australian television’ by the media .

In February 2007 the music industry was saddened with the untimely death of Billy Thorpe at only age 60 from a heart attack. Chuggi and Amanda had long managed Billy at ‘arms length’ , not ever imagining their next production with him was his funeral. Held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, open to the public, Billy was appropriately heralded by his friends and colleagues - Jack Thompson, Olivia Newton-John and Bryan Brown among them. Billy’s opus ‘Tangier’ remained incomplete and with the good graces of Sony Music and Michael Chugg, amanda went on to complete the work with producer Daniel Denholm. The album won the ARIA’s Best Contemporary album award in 2011.

On July 7,2007 Sydney hosted the first of seven worldwide simultaneous concerts for Al Gore’s Live Earth initiative. Produced by Michael Chugg, Mark Pope, Joe Segreto and Amanda it was a world first in marrying the message of climate change to entertainment and featured Toni Collette, Crowded House and many others.

In a similar vein , Sound Relief was created in 2009 in response to Australia’s bushfire disaster - sadly the first of many climate crises to come. Created in co-operation between Michael Gudinski’s Frontier Touring , Michael Chugg Entertainment, Mark Pope and IMC’s Joe Segreto it was a remarkable double barrelled event. Taking place in Sydney and Melbourne’s hallowed cricket grounds, sold out audiences were able to experience both shows as multiple headline artists including Coldplay, Kylie , Taylor Swift and a reformed Midnight Oil kept a near one hundred thousand people per city captivated. Capped off by Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John, the DVD of the shows were certified five times platinum.

After a break from the entertainment industry ( to take up her other passion of renovating houses) Amanda joined the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as Contemporary Creative Director in 2015, developing sold out shows on David Bowie and George Michael.

A move to the US came in 2017 following her son Austins’ admission into NorthEastern University in Boston. In 2018-2019 Amanda worked alongside Michael Lang in developing the (ill-fated) Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival.

As of October 2021, Amanda is in London on assignment as Development Manager for RGM Productions under the direction of Garry McQuinn. Brian Cadd remains touring Australia.

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