The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

Australia Council’s Major Performing Arts Board Appointment

The Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today announced the appointment of Rick Allert as Chair and Judith Stewart as a member of the Australia Council for the Arts’ Major Performing Arts Board.

Mr Allert is currently a member of the Major Performing Arts Board (MPAB) and Ms Stewart has been appointed as a new member of the board. Both Mr Allert and Ms Stewart will serve for a three year period.

“Mr Allert is one of Australia’s leading businessmen and his experience both as a Chartered Accountant and Company Director will be highly valued,” Senator Kemp said.

“His experience in running large corporations and interest in arts-business partnerships has provided Mr Allert with valuable insight into the challenges facing premier arts companies in Australia.”

Mr Allert is Chairman of Coles Myer Ltd and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd. Mr Allert is also on the board of the Australia Business Arts Foundation, a Commonwealth-owned company which aims to increase private sector support for the arts.

Previously Mr Allert has been the Chairman of Voyages Hotels & Resorts Pty Ltd, AustralAsia Railway Corporation, Southcorp Limited, the National Wine Centre and Education Adelaide. Mr Allert has also run his own business, Allert Heard & Co, a specialist insolvency practice.

“I welcome Ms Stewart as a member on the Major Performing Arts Board and I am delighted she has agreed to undertake the additional responsibility as a community interest representative on the Board,” Senator Kemp said.

Formerly a barrister, Ms Stewart is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Great Barrier Reef Research Foundation. Prior to her current position, Ms Stewart was a director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and chair of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music.

“Ms Stewart’s background and experience will be of great benefit to the broader community and I am sure she will make a valuable contribution to the Board,” Senator Kemp said.

The Australia Council’s MPAB aims to ensure that Australia has an artistically vibrant, financially viable and broadly accessible major performing arts sector. It has responsibility for implementing the decisions of the Cultural Ministers Council on the recommendations of the Major Performing Arts Inquiry, working jointly with relevant state and territory funding agencies.

See www.ozco.gov.au/boards/major_performing_arts for further information.