Senator the Hon Helen Coonan was Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 18 July 2004 to 3 December 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Senator Stephen Conroy is the current Minister for the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

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19 June 2006

Appointments to the NetAlert Board

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today announced a number of reappointments to the NetAlert Board.

“I am pleased to announce the current Chair, Ms Karyn Hart and four current Directors will remain on the NetAlert Board until 30 June 2007 ,” Senator Coonan said.

NetAlert is a wholly Government-owned company established in 1999 to promote a safer Internet experience for Australians.

“NetAlert plays a vital role in helping parents and young people safely navigate the Internet. These reappointments ensure the Board retains an appropriate mix of industry, legal, library services, law enforcement and educational experience and knowledge,” Senator Coonan said.

Karyn Hart has been Chair of NetAlert since it was established in 1999. She has extensive experience in the education sector as Chair of the National Advisory Committee on School Drugs Education and has been President of the Australian and Queensland Secondary School Principals’ Associations. Karyn is currently the Principal of Macgregor State High School in Brisbane, Queensland.
Peter Coroneos is the Chief Executive of the Internet Industry Association (IIA). While at the IIA, he has been involved in the development of the Internet industry codes of practice and has been involved with many committees and advisory councils, including the Privacy Advisory Committee, and the Consultative Group on Protecting Australia’s Critical Information Infrastructure.
Kaaren Koomen is currently a Government Affairs Executive with IBM Australia/New Zealand and was formerly Group Manager of Multimedia Regulation and Strategy at Optus. She previously chaired the IIA’s content task force.
Derek Whitehead OAM has 25 years experience with the State Library of Victoria, including Deputy State Librarian. He is currently Director of Information Services at Swinburne University of Technology.
Kevin Zuccato is a Federal Agent with the Australian Federal Police, and is currently Director of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre.

Senator Coonan extended her thanks to outgoing Directors, Ms Bernadette McMenamin and Mr Mike Nermut, for their hard work and contribution to the Government’s Internet safety strategy during their time on the Board.