The Museum’s Council

The Council of the National Museum of Australia is responsible for the overall performance of the organisation, including setting the strategic direction and establishing goals for management. The Council works with executive management in developing, executing, monitoring and adjusting the appropriate strategies, and its non-executive members are appointed by the Governor-General in accordance with Subsection 13(2) of the Museum Act.

The Museum Act provides for a Council consisting of a Chair, the Director of the Museum and between seven and 10 other members. All members are appointed by the Governor-General and, apart from the Director, are part-time appointees for terms of up to three years, and members can be reappointed. The Director is appointed by the Governor-General in accordance with Section 23 of the Museum Act, and can hold office for a period not exceeding seven years.

The Museum provides Council members with information on changes to corporate governance responsibilities as it becomes available, including Australian National Audit Office documents and guidelines.

The Council has procedures for the disclosure and resolution of any matter for its consideration that may result in a conflict of interest. Members are required to make the nature of that interest known at the commencement of a Council meeting, and details of such disclosures are recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

The Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal determines remuneration for non-executive members. In 2017–18, there were no deputies of part-time members appointed under Section 15(1) of the Act, and no directions to the Council by the Minister.

The Museum Council held five meetings in Canberra during 2017–18. A senior executive staff officer from the Arts Division of the Department of Communications and the Arts attended three meetings as an observer.

The meetings were held on:

• 17 August 2017 (no. 162)
• 15 September 2017 (Strategic planning day no. 2)
• 23 November 2017 (no. 163)
• 1 March 2018 (no. 164)
• 24 May 2018 (no. 165)

The current membership of the Council provides a mix of skills and experience in the areas of history, law, education, the arts, media, Indigenous issues, philanthropy, marketing, social media, business, and financial and strategic management. During 2017–18 the Council comprised the following non-executive members:

Mr David Jones, Chair (MBA, Harvard Business School; BEng (Hons), University of Melbourne) has been Chairman of VGI Partners, a global equities absolute return fund manager, since 2014. He spent 17 years in private equity (1994–2011), as Managing Director at CHAMP Private Equity, Executive Director and Country Head of UBS Capital, and a division director at Macquarie Direct Investment. He is Chairman of VGI Partners Global Investments Limited (ASX: VG1) and Derwent Executive, a member of the Investment Committee of EMR Capital, and a non-executive director of Cape York Partnership. Mr Jones attended 5/5 meetings. Terms: 25 June 2018 – 24 June 2021 (reappointed as Chair of Council); 25 June 2015 – 24 June 2018 (appointed Chair of Council); 30 May 2013 – 29 May 2016 (reappointed); 25 February 2010 – 24 February 2013.

Mr Ben Maguire, Deputy Chair (MBA, Australian Graduate School of Management, University of Sydney) is Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Trucking Association, Chairman of Remount Ltd, Director of Maguire Management, and Deputy Co-Chair of Regional Development Australia, Southern Inland. For eight years he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre in Longreach, Queensland. He has been a member of the Slim Dusty Museum Advisory Board, and is a former executive manager of AGL Energy Limited. Mr Maguire attended 5/5 meetings. Term: 20 August 2015 – 19 August 2018.

Ms Vicki Coltman (MBA, University of Ballarat; BBA, University of Ballarat; Grad. Dip., Swinburne University of Technology) is the Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat and a Trustee of the Art Gallery of Ballarat Foundation. Ms Coltman has a wealth of experience in the business and arts sectors in her previous roles as city councillor for Ballarat and project manager for IBM Global Services. Ms Coltman attended 4/5 meetings. Term: 27 July 2017 – 26 July 2020.

Ms Sarah Davies (BA (Hons), University of Leicester) is the Chief Executive Officer of Philanthropy Australia and has held a number of other chief executive positions, including with The Reach Foundation and Australian Communities Foundation. She was previously a consultant at Growth Solutions Group and The Hay Group. Ms Davies also serves on a number of diverse boards and committees, including as Director of Kids Under Cover, board member of the Centre for Social Impact and member of the Australian Advisory Board on Impact Investing. Ms Davies attended 4/5 meetings. Term: 27 July 2017 – 26 July 2020.

Mrs Fiona Jose is the Chief Executive Officer of Cape York Partnership as well as the Cape York Leader of Empowered Communities. She holds a range of directorships including non-executive director of the Board for all Cape York Partnership entities, as well as Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation. Mrs Jose attended 5/5 meetings. Term: 27 July 2017 – 26 July 2020.

Professor Catharine Lumby (PhD (Media and Communication), Macquarie University; BA (Hons), LLB, University of Sydney) is Professor of Media at Macquarie University, where her research spans media services, gender studies and media content regulation. She was the Foundation Chair, Media and Communications Department, Sydney University, and Foundation Director, Journalism and Media Research Centre, at the University of New South Wales, and is a member of the editorial boards of Public Communication Review, International Journal of Cultural Studies and Feminist Media Studies. Since 2004 she has worked in a pro-bono role advising the National Rugby League on cultural change and education programs for players. Before entering academia in 2000 she was a journalist and opinion writer and has worked for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Bulletin. Professor Lumby attended 5/5 meetings. Terms: 30 May 2016 – 29 May 2019 (reappointed); 30 May 2013 – 29 May 2016.

Mr Tony Nutt (BA (Hons), University of Western Australia) is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Notre Dame (Australia) and a non-executive director on the Australia Post Board. Mr Nutt has more than 35 years’ experience advising federal and state governments, including more than 10 years’ service as Principal Adviser to the former Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard OM AC; and Chief of Staff to the former Attorney-General, the Hon Daryl Williams AM QC. He was also Federal Director and State Director of the Liberal Party of Australia, Director-General (Cabinet) and Principal Adviser to the former Premier of Victoria, the Hon Ted Baillieu. Mr Nutt attended 1/1 meetings. Term: 2 March 2018 – 1 March 2021.

Ms Maureen Plavsic has 30 years of experience in media, advertising and brand marketing, including as Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director and Head of Sales and Corporate Marketing at Seven Network Limited. Ms Plavsic is Director of Ridge Consulting, a board member of Bestest Inc., and was previously a director of 1-Page, Pacific Brands, Macquarie Radio Network and Opera Australia, and a trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria. Ms Plavsic attended 3/4 meetings. Term: 5 May 2016 – 4 May 2019.

Mr Michael Traill AM (MBA, Harvard Business School; BA (Hons), University of Melbourne) was the founding Chief Executive Officer of Social Ventures Australia from 2002 to 2014, and co-founder and Executive Director of Macquarie Group’s private equity arm, Macquarie Direct Investment. Mr Traill has expertise in philanthropy investment and development and is Director of MH Carnegie & Co and chair of a number of organisations, including Goodstart Early Learning, Assetic Pty Ltd and the Paul Ramsay Foundation. Mr Traill attended 2/5 meetings. Term: 5 May 2016 – 4 May 2019.

Outgoing members in 2017–18 were:

Dr Janet Albrechtsen attended 3/3 meetings. Term: 11 December 2014 – 10 December 2017.

Mr Alexander Hartman attended 2/3 meetings. Term: 26 February 2015 – 25 February 2018.

Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

The Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (AFRC) is constituted under Section 21 of the Museum Act as a committee of the Council of the National Museum of Australia. Council established the AFRC in compliance with Section 45 of the PGPA Act and Section 17 of the PGPA Rule. The AFRC’s functions are to:

• review the Museum’s financial reporting, performance reporting, system of risk oversight and management, and system of internal controls provide advice independent of Museum management
• help the Museum and Council members comply with the obligations under the PGPA Act and associated framework
• provide a forum for communication between Council members, the Museum executive, and the internal and external auditors of the Museum
• examine and recommend the Museum’s annual financial statements for Council’s endorsement.

The AFRC membership as at 30 June 2018 was:

• Mr Ben Maguire (Committee Chair, Council member, 3/4 meetings)
• Professor Catharine Lumby (Committee Deputy Chair, Council member, 4/4 meetings)
• Mr Tony Nutt (Committee member, Council member, 0/0 meetings)
• Mr Graham Smith (Independent member, 3/4 meetings). The outgoing member in 2017–18 was:
• Dr Janet Albrechtsen (Committee Chair, Council member, 2/2 meetings).

Four meetings of the AFRC were held in Canberra on 16 August (no. 83) and 22 November 2017 (no. 84), and 19 February (no. 85) and 23 May 2018 (no. 86).

Indigenous Reference Group

The Museum’s Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) is constituted under Section 21 of the Museum Act as a committee of the Council of the National Museum of Australia. The IRG provides expert advice to the Council of the Museum regarding the Museum’s activities that represent and serve the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader Australian community. The Council authorises the IRG, within its responsibilities, to advise Council on:

• the collection, interpretation and exhibition of historical material in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• all policies, programs, publications and events of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• any other matters referred to it by the Council or Director that are relevant to its role.

The IRG membership as at 30 June 2018 was:

• Mrs Fiona Jose (Chair, Council member, 3/3 meetings)
• Mr Jason Eades (Deputy Chair, 3/4 meetings)
• Mr Tony Calgaret (1/2 meetings)
• Ms Henrietta Marrie (2/4 meetings)
• Mr Aven Noah (1/2 meetings)
• Ms Alison Page (0/0 meetings)
• Ms Zoe Rimmer (0/2 meetings)
• Ms Irene Stainton (3/4 meetings)
• Mr Russell Taylor (1/4 meetings)
• Dr Shayne Williams (0/0 meetings).
• Outgoing members in 2017–18 were:
• Mr Adrian Brown (0/2 meetings)
• Mr Greg Lehman (3/3 meetings)
• Mr Vic McGrath (2/3 meetings)
• Ms Lee-Ann Buckskin (2/3 meetings).

Four meetings of the IRG were held in 2017–18: 16 August (no. 16, Canberra) and 13 September 2017 (Strategic planning day, Canberra); 28 February (no. 17, Canberra) and 9 May 2018 (no. 18, virtual meeting).

Advisory groups

Three Council-convened advisory groups continued to focus on the following key priorities in 2017–18:

• Development, including corporate partnerships and philanthropy
• Commercial growth, including brand, reputation and commercial opportunities
• Digital strategy, including emerging technologies, digital collection management, augmented reality and user experience.