Appointments to the Australian Postal Corporation Board

149/04
31 August 2004

The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, today announced appointments to the Board of the Australian Postal Corporation.

Mr Ian Warner and Ms Margaret Gibson were today both appointed to the Board for a period of three years with appointment effective from 2 September 2004 .

"Mr Warner has served on the Board for three years and I am delighted that he can continue his good work," Senator Coonan said.

Mr Warner has a long and distinguished legal and commercial career and is currently a senior consultant with Jackson McDonald, Barristers and Solicitors, a law firm he has been associated with since 1959. He is also Deputy Chairman of Amcom Telecommunication Ltd and Chairman of Rivaknar Properties (WA) Pty Ltd. Mr Warner holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Western Australia.

"Ms Gibson has extensive corporate experience and has worked on several Government committees including the Consultative Committee to the Tax Law Improvement Project and the Customs Advisory Council," Senator Coonan said.

Ms Gibson, a Queenslander, has been a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers since 1983. She is the Leader of the firm's Government practice and specialises in taxation matters. Ms Gibson will bring considerable financial expertise to the Board.

Earlier this year three other appointments were made to the Board. Mr David Mortimer, Deputy Chair of the Board, was reappointed for a period of four years, and Ms Sandra McPhee and Dr Edward Tweddell were each reappointed for a period of three years.

Mr Mortimer is currently Chairman of Citect Corporation Limited and the MIA Group Limited and in January 2004 was appointed Chairman of the Defence Department's Defence Procurement Advisory Board.

Ms McPhee is currently a company director with Coles Myer Limited, Perpetual Trustees Australia Limited, Primelife Corporation Limited and St Vincent's and Mater Health. She is also a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Dr Tweddell has a medical and pharmaceutical background, with considerable management experience as Managing Director of Faulding Pharmaceuticals and FH Faulding & Co Limited. He is currently Chairman of Ansell Limited and Nepenthe Group Pty Limited and a director of the CSIRO.

In announcing these appointments, Senator Coonan acknowledged the considerable business expertise of the directors and expressed confidence in their ability to make a valuable contribution to ensuring that Australia Post continues to maintain its high level of service to the Australian community.

Media Contact: Jane McMillan 0438 690 305
www.minister.dcita.gov.au