Walsh announced as OzCo chair

Minister for communications and the arts Mitch Fifield has appointed Sam Walsh as the next chair of the Australia Council for the Arts, following current chair Rupert Myer.

Walsh was global CEO of multinational mining group Rio Tinto until his retirement in 2016, and has served on the board of the Australia Council since late 2016. He is also the current chair of the Art Gallery of WA. Walsh will be the 13th chair of the Australia Council.

Myer, whose term as chair concludes on 30 June, said Walsh is ’eminently qualified’ for the position. ‘With his depth of experience in cultural leadership roles in performing arts organisations, art galleries, cultural philanthropy and arts advocacy, Sam is eminently qualified for the position and will bring local, national and international experience to the role,’ said Myer. ‘With his detailed knowledge of—and respect for—our national arts ecology, Sam will be highly effective in promoting and supporting the arts and artists across Australia and overseas.’

Walsh said, ‘I am following the heritage of an impressive history of Australia Council chairs over the past 50 years and I look forward to building on the strong foundations created by my predecessors and the highly capable team at the Australia Council.’

Walsh will commence his three-year term as Chair from 1 July.

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Category: Local news