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Professor Gavin Brown AO
Inaugural Director, Royal Institute of Australia
Professor Gavin Brown AO is the inaugural Director of the Royal Institute of Australia, Foundation Chair of the Go8 universities, past president of the AC21 international consortium and former Chair of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
His academic credentials are vast - after becoming a Professor of Pure Mathematics from the University of NSW(UNSW) in 1976, Gavin’s positions have included Dean of Science at UNSW, Vice-Chancellor at Adelaide University and Vice-Chancellor at Sydney University from 1996 to 2008.
Gavin serves on the Global Foundation Board and Joanna Briggs Foundation Advisory Board. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2006 for service to tertiary education in Australia and internationally as an advocate for excellence and through the establishment of strategic links with overseas institutions, and to mathematical research.
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Richard Colless AM
Chairman, Sydney Swans Football Club
Richard Colless AM has been Chairman of the Sydney Swans Football Club since 1994. A prominent figure in stockbroking and investment management in the United Kingdom and Australia, Richard has over 25 years management experience in the business of sport.
Richard was a member of the Western Australian Football Commission from 1984 to 1986, the Foundation Chairman of West Coast Eagles from 1987 and Chairman of the AFL (NSW-ACT) Commission from 1988 -2002. Richard became a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2006 for service to Australian Rules football through initiatives to develop the code nationally and in leadership roles with the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles football clubs.
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Johanna Griggs
Television and Sports Host
Johanna Griggs is one of Channel Seven’s highest profile presenters. As sports presenter for weekend news bulletins and host of Better Homes and Gardens, Johanna is a familiar face to television viewers.
Her sports hosting credits include the Brisbane International, Medibank International Sydney , the Australian Open, the Beijing Olympics and the Olympic Sunrise program in 2000. Johanna was awarded Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, from Macquarie University in September 2009, recognising her contributions to journalism, professional swimming and her services to the community and cancer research.
Prior to Johanna’s move to television she represented Australia in swimming, winning Bronze at the Auckland Commonwealth Games in 1990.
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Peter Ivany AM
Ivany Investment Group
Peter Ivany AM established the diversified investment business Ivany Investment Group (IIG) in 2000. He was previously the Chief Executive of Hoyts Cinemas from 1988 to 1999.
Peter is Chairman of the Australian Television, Radio & Film School, Chairman of Sydney Australian Football Foundation (Sydney Swans), Chairman of the Advisory Council, Sydney Film Festival and Chairman of the Israeli-Palestinian Film & Television Initiative.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the community in 2007.
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Professor David Richmond AO
Consultant
David Richmond AO currently provides strategic advice and assistance to governments and the private sector. He was previously the NSW Coordinator General and more recently assisted the NSW Government with the operations of World Youth Day and the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games. David was inaugural Chairman of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority and also the Redfern Waterloo Authority. He established as Foundation Director and Professor the Graduate School of Government, University of Sydney.
As CEO, Sydney 2000, David led all operations of the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic Games and coordinated NSW Government Games services.
In 2000 David was awarded the IOC's highest honour, the Olympic Order in Gold, and was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2002.
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Belinda Seper
Chief Executive Officer, Belinda International
Belinda Seper is CEO of Belinda International, a boutique that opened in Double Bay in 1992 and quickly grew to a 14-store operation in Australia and overseas stocking must-have labels such as Marni, Lanvin, Stella McCartney, Miu Miu and Dries Van Noten. Belinda also supports the more niche collections of up-and-coming Australian designers.
Belinda is a member of the Australian Fashion Week Board, where she is dedicated to championing young designers, mentoring the likes of Ksubi, Michelle Jank, Sass&Bide and Sandra Thom. She is also a Director on the Board of St John’s Ambulance.
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Charlotte Vidor
Director, Toga Hospitality
Charlotte Vidor is Director of Toga Hospitality and has been a strong advocate for the tourism industry, both in Sydney and on the NSW coast.
Charlotte established the first tourism project for Hawks Nest, Port Stephens and set up the Hawks Nest- Tea Gardens Tourism Association. She developed the executive serviced apartments concept when she established the first Medina Serviced Apartments in Randwick in 1982.
Charlotte was a member of the Tourism New South Wales Board from 1996 to 2006 and has been the Director of Toga Hospitality since 1982.
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Kim Williams AM
Chief Executive and Managing Director, Foxtel
Kim Williams AM has been Chief Executive of FOXTEL since December 2001. He has had a long involvement in the arts and entertainment industry in Australia and internationally and has held various executive positions including as Chief Executive at each of Fox Studios Australia, the Australian Film Commission, Southern Star Entertainment and as a senior executive at the ABC.
Kim has held numerous Board positions in commercial and public life, including Chairman of the Australian Film Finance Corporation which he founded in 1988 and most recently as the Chairman of the Sydney Opera House since 2005. Kim was appointed as a Member in the Order of Australia in 2006.
In September 2009 Kim was honoured with a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, by Macquarie University for his long and distinguished involvement in the arts and entertainment industry.
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Geoff Parmenter
CEO, Events NSW
Geoff Parmenter was appointed the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Events NSW in February 2008. Geoff has twenty years of experience in major events, strategy and marketing.
Geoff gained significant experience in the international events space prior to returning to Australia to work for SOCOG running the Accreditation Programs for the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Straight after the Games, Geoff joined the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), initially as General Manager for the Rugby World Cup 2003 project and later as head of the ARU’s new Marketing and Strategy division
In 2004 Geoff took up the role as Head of Marketing, Communications and Strategy for the new Football Federation Australia (FFA) where he had responsibility for developing and driving integrated corporate and brand strategies for FFA, the Socceroos, the A-League and Football.
Geoff is a member of the Brand Sydney Project Team and Director of the Business Events Sydney Board and the Sydney Business Chamber Regional Council.