MR KIM WILLIAMS AM
Joined the Trust in January 2005 - Chair of Sydney Opera House Trust and member of Audit and Risk Committee and Building Committee.
Qualifications: B.Mus (Univ Syd)
Background: Previous roles included positions such as Senior Executive at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Chief Executive of Southern Star Entertainment, Chief Executive of the Australian Film Commission, Chairman of Musica Viva Australia and Chief Executive of Fox Studios Australia. Kim founded the Australian Film Finance Corporation in 1988 as well as being its inaugural Chairman and has held numerous board positions in government and the private sector over three decades. In 2009 he was awarded a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa by Macquarie University for services to the arts and entertainment industry in Australia and internationally.
Other Directorships: Stradivarius Pty Ltd (Director), Business Council of Australia (Member), News Limited (Director), News Australia Holdings Pty Limited (Director), Advertiser Newspapers Pty Limited (Director), Queensland Press Pty Limited (Director), The Herald & Weekly Times Pty Limited (Director).
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MR WAYNE BLAIR
Joined the Trust in January 2013
Qualifications: BBus, BA
Background: Wayne is a film, television and theatre writer and director. He is the director of the highly successful feature film, The Sapphires which had its world premiere Out of Competition at the Cannes Film festival in 2012. Wayne’s Television directing credits include Redfern Now (ABC TV) and Lockie Leonard Series 1 and 2 (Nine Network). In 2005 Wayne’s short film The Djarn Djarns won the Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival and a Deadly Award. As an actor he has performed in theatre productions with Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Belvoir St Theatre, Bangarra Dance Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company.
Wayne was awarded the Bob Maza Fellowship by Screen Australia in 2011, the Richard Wherrett Fellowship by the Sydney Theatre Company in 2006 and the Andrew Myer Fellowship by the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in 2007.
MS CATHERINE BRENNER
Joined the Trust in May 2009 - Chair of Audit and Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BEc LLB MBA
Background: Former Managing Director in the investment banking division of ABN AMRO where she has held various senior roles in the mergers and acquisitions and equity capital market divisions. Prior to becoming an investment banker, Catherine was a corporate lawyer.
Other Directorships: Coca Cola Amatil Limited (Non-Executive Director), AMP Limited (Non-Executive Director), Centennial Coal Company Limited (Non-Executive Director), Boral Limited (Non-Executive Director).
Government and Community Involvement: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (Director), Takeovers Panel - Federal Government Forum (Member).
/Sydney_Opera_House/Our_People/Helen Coonan98x125.jpg "Hon Helen Coonan")
THE HON HELEN COONAN
Joined the Trust in January 2012 - Chair of the Conservation Council.
Qualifications: BA, LLB
Background: Former Senator in the Australian Parliament representing NSW from 1996-2011 and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. Held several Ministerial and Shadow Ministerial portfolios including Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. She has served in Cabinet as the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Helen was previously Chair of the Historic Houses Trust of NSW, Chair of the Law Foundation and a Director of the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. Prior to entering Parliament, Helen Coonan worked as a lawyer and mediator in Australia and in New York.
Government and Community involvement: Mental Health Council Australia (Parliamentary Patron), Obesity Australia Limited (Non-Executive Director), Centre for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (Director), Council for Equal Opportunity for Employment (Director), Chief Executive Women (Member).
Other Directorships: Crown Limited (Non-Executive Director), J.P. Morgan Advisory Council (Member).
MS RENATA KALDOR AO
Joined the Trust in January 2005 - member of Audit and Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BA Dip Ed
Background: Renata was Deputy Chancellor of The University of Sydney, a Fellow of the University Senate and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from University of Sydney in 2004. Renata has served as Chairperson of the NSW Women's Advisory Council, a member of the Sydney Olympic Bid Committee, a director of NSW State Rail Authority and of The Garvan Medical Research Foundation.
Other Directorships: ASI (Director).
Government and Community Involvement: Renata is involved in business, education and community affairs and is on the Advisory Council of Westmead Children's Hospital. In 2009 Renata was appointed Judicial Commissioner NSW.
MR ROBERT LEECE AM RFD
Joined the Trust in August 2002 - Chair of Building Committee.
Qualifications: BE, M.Eng.Sc, MBA, F.I.E.Aust, CPEng
Background: Robert was previously Chief Operating Officer of Tenix Pty Ltd, Deputy Director-General of the Olympic Coordination Authority and held board positions of various public and private organisations. Throughout his career he has been responsible for the successful development and construction of over $40 billion of infrastructure and buildings in Australia.
Government and Community Involvement: Infrastructure Coordinator General, NSW Nation Building and Jobs Taskforce (Chair), Health Infrastructure Board (Chair).
/Sydney_Opera_House/Our_People/Peter Mason98x125.jpg "Peter Mason")
MR PETER MASON AM
Joined the Trust in January 2012 – member of Audit and Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BCom (Hons), MBA, Hon.DBus (UNSW), FAICD
Background: Chairman, AMP Limited, since 2005 and Senior Advisor to UBS Investment Bank. He was Chairman of JP Morgan Chase Bank in Australia from 2000 to 2005. Prior to this he was Chairman and Chief Executive of Schroders Australia Limited and Group Managing Director of Schroders' investment banking businesses in the Asia Pacific region. He was a member of the Council of the University of New South Wales as well as a Director of the Children's Hospital in Sydney and Chairman of the Children's Hospital Fund. In 1995, Peter was appointed a member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the Children's Hospital.
Other Directorships: Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Director), David Jones Limited (Director), University of New South Wales Foundation (Director), Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation Limited (Director), UBS Australia Foundation Pty Limited (Chairman), Centre for International Finance and Regulation (Chairman).
MR LEO SCHOFIELD AM
Joined the Trust in January 2005.
Background: Former Director of Sydney Festival, Artistic Director of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic cultural festivals, Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Festival of Arts (1994-1996), and Artistic Director of Sydney's New Year's Eve Celebrations (2002-2004). Leo has been involved in Australian debut presentations of a number of major international events and companies including the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Paris Opera Ballet. He is also well-known and respected journalist and television broadcaster, has worked closely with many arts organisations in a funding capacity and served nine years as a Trustee of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.
Government and Community Involvement: National Portrait Gallery (Board Member).
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MR JOHN SYMOND AM
Joined the Trust in January 2012 – member of Building Committee.
Background: Founder and Executive Chairman, Aussie Home Loans, since 1992 (Managing Director 1992-2008). John was inducted into the Australian Banking and Finance Magazine’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and was awarded Personality of the Decade Banking and Financial Awards 1999. John was also named Australian Lebanese Businessman of the Year by the Australian Lebanese Chamber Commission in 1995.
Government & Community Involvement: 2002 Member of the Order of Australia; Australian Property Institute (Fellow); Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (Honorary Life Member); Art Gallery of New South Wales (President’s Council); Australian Business Arts Foundation (Founding Councillor).
/Sydney_Opera_House/Our_People/Robert Wannan98x125.jpg "Mr Robert Wannan Image")
MR ROB WANNAN
Joined the Trust in January 2013
Qualifications: BA (Hons) LLB FAICD
Background: Rob has practiced as a commercial lawyer for more than 30 years and was a long-standing partner of Greaves Wannan & Williams one of the foremost agribusiness and rural law firms. He was appointed Chairman of Kemp Strang in 2009 and is also the Chairman of the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Foundation since its inception in 2002, a not-for-profit organisation that provides opportunities for young Australians.
Other Directorships: Chairman of the Council of Knox Grammar School, Chairman of Knox Grammar School Foundation Limited and Director of a number of companies associated with ANZ Bank.