Media Release: Minister for the Arts, ‘National collecting institutions appointments’, 11 December 2014

Today I announce five new appointments to the councils of the Australian National Maritime Museum, National Museum of Australia, National Library of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive.

The Hon Ian Campbell and the Hon Peter Collins AM, RFD, QC will join the Council of the Australian National Maritime Museum, both bringing a great enthusiasm for our maritime heritage as well as corporate and governance experience. Mr Campbell is a former federal minister and has extensive experience in the corporate sector. Mr Collins was in active military service in 2007, and served in the Army and Naval Reserves. Mr Collins was also a member in New South Wales Parliament and is currently chairman of a number of organisations. He is also a noted naval historian.

Dr Janet Albrechtsen has accepted appointment to the Council of the National Museum of Australia. Dr Albrechtsen is an opinion columnist with The Australian and has written for a number of well-known newspapers locally and internationally. In addition to her media background, Dr Albrechtsen has legal, finance and leadership experience.

Mr Thomas Bradley QC will join the Council of the National Library of Australia, providing valuable high-level legal expertise to the Council. Mr Bradley is currently a barrister in private practice at the Queensland Bar and is President of Access Arts.

Mr Paul Neville will join the Board of the National Film and Sound Archive. He has a keen interest in Australian cinema and experience in the governance of a collecting institution. Prior to his Parliamentary career, Mr Neville worked in arts administration in Queensland. Mr Neville is currently on the Board of Hinkler House Memorial Museum and Research Centre.

I congratulate the new appointees who will all bring their knowledge, expertise and commitment to our key cultural institutions. All appointments are for three years.

I also thank the outgoing members of these boards and councils for their outstanding contributions.

The Hon Ian Campbell

Mr Campbell is currently Director of the global investment bank Brookfield Financial.

He served as Minister for Human Services in 2007, Minister for Environment and Heritage from 2004 to 2007, and Minister for Roads, Territories and Local Government from 2003 to 2004. He initiated the Duyfken’s voyage around Australia to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 1606 mapping of Cape York. Mr Campbell has extensive experience in politics and in the corporate sector and an enthusiasm for maritime history.

The Hon Peter Collins AM, RFD, QC

The Hon Peter Collins is currently Chairman of Industry Super Australia, Barton Deakin Government Relations and Sydney Financial Forum. He is also a Director of Hostplus and Board Member of the National Patient Transport and Sydney Writers Festival.

Mr Collins served as Director of Naval Reserve Support New South Wales, was in active service in Iraq in 2007 and served in the Army and Naval Reserves. In 2012, he was added to the Retired List as Captain. He was a member in the New South Wales Parliament over 22 years and held senior positions in government and opposition, including Minister for the Arts, Treasurer, and Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr Collins has extensive experience in politics, governance and military and naval service.

Dr Janet Albrechtsen

Dr Albrechtsen is an opinion columnist with The Australian, and has written for The Wall Street Journal Asia, the Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Canada’s National Post and The Vancouver Sun.

She is an Ambassador and Mentor with the Australian Indigenous Education Fund and is a former member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Board and the Foreign Affairs Council.

Mr Thomas Bradley QC

Mr Bradley is a barrister in private practice at the Queensland Bar. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2013. He is President of Access Arts, an organisation helping Queenslanders experiencing disability or disadvantage enjoy and excel at arts and culture, and is a member of the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art Foundation Committee.

Mr Paul Neville

Mr Neville was the Federal Member for Hinkler from 1993 to 2013. He is on the board of Hinkler House Memorial Museum and Research Centre, and was a former manager for Birch Carroll and Coyle, a subsidiary of Greater Union Theatres and a freelance television cameraman.