11 October 2016
The Turnbull Government has announced the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of four members to the Australia Council Board, including Ms Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin as the new Deputy Chair.
Mr Sam Walsh AO, Ms Kate Fielding, Ms Zoe McKenzie and Mr Leigh Carmichael have been appointed as new members of the Board for three year terms.
Mr Walsh brings significant business and governance experience and has served as a Patron and Chair of Black Swan State Theatre Company, Trustee of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation in London and Chair of the West Australian Chapters of the Chamber of Arts and Culture and Australia Business Arts Foundation. Mr Walsh is Global President of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, and was formerly Chief Executive of Rio Tinto.
Ms Fielding is an award-winning cultural strategist and author with extensive governance experience in regional and remote arts in Australia. She is Chair of both Regional Arts Australia and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, and was formerly Chair of Country Arts Western Australia.
Ms McKenzie brings valuable experience in governance, international engagement, government relations and the arts and cultural sector. She is an adviser to the small to medium arts sector and a member of the University of Melbourne Humanities Foundation Board and the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Advisory Board. She has held senior roles in administration for KPMG and as a policy adviser to governments.
Mr Carmichael is Creative Director and Brand and Marketing Director for the Museum of Old and New Art and the Dark Mofo festival in Tasmania. He is an experienced graphic designer and successful art and creative director for small to medium arts, cultural and design organisations.
Ms Buckskin has been appointed for a three year term as Deputy Chair following five years as a member of the Board. Ms Buckskin is an Executive for Aboriginal Screen Strategy at the South Australian Film Corporation, member of the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Reference Group and Co-Chair of the TARNANTHI Contemporary Festival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts.
The Government is adopting governance best practice by introducing staggering of terms.
Mr Adrian Collette AM, Mr Khoa Do and Ms Sophie Mitchell have been reappointed as members of the Board for two years, bringing an outstanding mix of skills and experience in governance, leadership and the arts and cultural sectors.
The Government congratulates the new and reappointed Board members who will provide a combination of continuity and fresh perspectives. The Board now has 12 members, including the Chair, Rupert Myer AO; Christine Simpson Stokes; Rebecca Weisser; and the CEO of the Australia Council, Tony Grybowski.
The Government would like to thank Ms Robyn Archer AO for her distinguished role in leading and guiding the work of the Australia Council as Deputy Chair over the last five years. The Government also recognises the substantial contributions of Mr Waleed Aly, Ms Samantha Mostyn and Mr Tim Orton and thanks them for their service.