"New Chairman of the Australia Foundation for Culture and the Humanities"
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Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Sydney, , AU Australia

Mr Ronald Walker AO CBE has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Australia Foundation for Culture and the Humanities. The Foundation aims to raise the level of private sector resources available to the arts and culture, and to encourage and assist business to develop strategic partnerships with the cultural sector.

Mr Walker holds a number of high profile corporate positions, including joint MD of Hudson Conway Limited, Chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, and Trustee, National Gallery of Victoria.

He is also currently the Chairman of the Victorian Major Events Company; Chairman, 2006 Commonwealth Games; President, 2002 World Masters Games; Chairman, Microsurgery Foundation; and Honorary Treasurer, Federal Liberal Party of Australia.

'With his combination of business and cultural interests, I am delighted that Mr Walker has agreed to provide vision and leadership for the Foundation at this important stage in its development,' Federal Minister for the Arts, Peter McGauran said.

'This is a critical time for arts and cultural organisations-Australia's cultural sector must respond to increased competition for sponsorship and business support.

'The good news is that the private sector is realising more than ever the benefits of investing in our cultural organisations.

'There's enormous scope for corporate Australia to increase support and take advantage of business opportunities which the cultural sector offers,' Mr McGauran said.

Mr Walker replaces Mr Richard Pratt AC who will take up the role of Patron of the Foundation.

'I'd like to take this opportunity to express the Government's sincere gratitude to Mr Pratt for his major contribution to the Foundation since his appointment as founding Chairman in 1995,' Mr McGauran said.

'Mr Pratt has been instrumental in guiding the Foundation through a dramatic transformation, from essentially a grant-giving body to one embracing a much broader role to help business find arts and culture partners that meet their needs,' he said.

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