The Morrison Government has appointed Ms Tina Arena AM and Mr Mario D’Orazio as members of the Australia Council Board for three year terms, and reappointed the Deputy Chair, Ms Lee‑Ann Tjunypa Buckskin, and board members Mr Leigh Carmichael and Ms Zoe McKenzie. Mr Khoa Do, Ms Sophie Mitchell, Ms Christine Simpson Stokes and Ms Rebecca Weisser were also recently reappointed.
Ms Arena is one of Australia’s most successful artists, and the only Australian artist to earn a gold or platinum certification for original album releases in every decade since the 1970s. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 for significant service to the music industry and as a supporter of charitable groups, and was awarded a Knighthood of the French ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Order of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Merit for her contributions to French culture. Her music has been enjoyed by generations in Australia and internationally. The high-profile singer-songwriter, musician and musical theatre actor brings significant experience as an artist to the Board.
Mr D’Orazio has a longstanding commitment to the arts, serving as Chair of Co3, the Contemporary Dance Company of WA, Chair of the Perth Public Art Foundation, as Director of WA Opera and a board member of the WA Academy of Performing Arts. In addition to his role as Trustee of the Telethon Trust, he recently retired from the position of Managing Director of Channel 7 Perth following a long and distinguished career in the media as a journalist, broadcaster and executive.
Ms Buckskin has been a member of the Board since 2012 and Deputy Chair since 2016. Ms Buckskin’s leadership in and commitment to the arts sector, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, and her expertise in community engagement have been invaluable to the Board. A long-standing member of the Board, Ms Buckskin will complete her nine-year tenure in 2021.
Mr Carmichael has served as a member of the Board since 2016, and is currently the creative director of the Museum of Old and New Art’s Dark Mofo in Hobart. He is an influential voice in the arts sector and has held memberships on a number of arts and cultural policy advisory groups.
Ms McKenzie has served as a member of the Board since 2016 and is also Chair of the Council’s Strategy Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. She has strong skills in international engagement and government relations, and broad experience in arts leadership and governance.
Mr Do has served as a member of the Board since 2013 and a member of the Nominations and Appointments Committee since then. He is a director and writer and has received multiple awards for his work with diverse communities. Mr Do is also an international keynote speaker as well as a community and youth worker.
Ms Mitchell has served as a member of the Board since 2013 and is Chair of the Council’s Audit Committee. She is currently a Director of Morgans Holdings (Australia) Limited, a full service stock broking and wealth management firm. She is a former member of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust.
Ms Simpson Stokes has served as a member of the Board since
February 2016 and has extensive experience in business management, media and the philanthropic sector. She is currently a Director of Australian Capital Equity and Executive Director of the Kerry Stokes Collection.
Ms Weisser has served as a member of the Board since September 2015 and has detailed knowledge of the media sector. She is a leader writer and columnist at The Spectator Australia and has previously served as an Australian diplomat.
The Government congratulates these Board members on their appointments.
The Australia Council is the Australian Government’s principal arts funding body. For more information visit:
