The Australian Government has appointed Mrs Penny Fowler AM and Mr Jay Weatherill AO and reappointed Ms Ilana Atlas AO as members of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia for three-year terms.
The Council is responsible for overseeing the Gallery's strategic and organisational goals and positioning it for the future so it can continue to deliver on its aim to inspire all Australians through art.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, congratulated the new and returning appointees.
"Ilana has been serving on the Council since 2022 and was appointed as Deputy Chair by the Council in November 2023 and we're thankful she's agreed to continuing lending her talents.
"I'd also like to welcome Jay and Penny. As former Premier of South Australia and Minister for the Arts, Jay was a strong advocate for the sector and will be an excellent addition to the board.
"Penny has been the Chair of the National Portrait Gallery Board and understands the important role institutions have in preserving and showcasing some of our nation's greatest treasures."
The National Gallery is dedicated to collecting, sharing and celebrating art from Australia and the world. It is home to the country's most valuable collection of art, with 155,000 works worth around $7 billion. This includes the world's largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Ms Ilana Atlas AO has served on the National Gallery of Australia Council since March 2022 and was elected Deputy Chair by Council members in November 2023. She is Chair of Jarwun Limited and Scentre Group Limited and is a non-executive director of Origin Energy Limited, the Paul Ramsay Foundation and is also a Panel Member of Adara Partners and a director of Adara Development. Her previous non-executive director roles include Chairman of the Bell Shakespeare Company and Coca-Cola Amatil Limited and Director of ANZ Banking Group and the Human Rights Law Centre. Prior to serving on these Boards, Ms Atlas had a 10 year career at Westpac. Ms Atlas was also a partner in law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now known as King & Wood Mallesons). In 2020 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the financial and manufacturing sectors, to education, and to the arts.
Mr Jay Weatherill AO is the former Premier of South Australia from 2011 to 2018. He currently leads the Thrive by Five campaign within the Minderoo Foundation and is an Ambassador for Reggio Children. He will soon join the Susan McKinnon Foundation pursuing their democracy reform agenda. Previously Mr Weatherill worked as a lawyer between 1987 to 1995 becoming the founder and principal of his own firm between 1995 and 2002. In 2002 he became a member for the Parliament of South Australia and later Premier where he oversaw various portfolios including Minister for the Arts. Following his term Mr Weatherill became an Industry Professor at the University of South Australia from 2019 to 2024. He serves on several government and industry and philanthropic boards. In 2021 Mr Weatherill was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people and Parliament of South Australia, particularly as Premier, and to early childhood and tertiary education.
Mrs Penny Fowler AM is Chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times and is News Corp Australia's Community Ambassador. Mrs Fowler has been a member of the National Portrait Gallery Board since March 2016 and served as Chair since January 2022 (her term will end on 8 March 2025). She chairs the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and the Tourism Australia Board. She is also on the Advisory Board of Visy/Pratt USA and is a board member of Tech Mahindra & the Bank of Melbourne (St. George) Foundation. Mrs Fowler is a member of Chief Executive Women and an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and SecondBite. In 2024 Mrs Fowler was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.
