Appointments August 11, 2023

Screenwest has announced two new additions to its board of directors as Anni Browning and Annie Fogarty. Ms Browning has worked in the film and television industry for more than 30 years and currently serves as an advisor to Film Finances Australasia. She has previously worked for government film funding bodies in South Australia and New South Wales, and has advised for the ABC, NZ On Air and the Australian Broadcasting Authority. Ms Fogarty is the chairperson and co-founder of the philanthropic Fogarty Foundation. The foundation delivers educational opportunities to a diverse range of students, from primary school aged children to post-graduate researchers. In 2013, Ms Fogarty was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her work in advancing education in WA. She was also named as Western Australian of the Year in 2020.

Newly formed tourism body Cockburn Destination Advisory Group met for the first time in July and have appointed Aventuur chair and chief development officer Andrew Ross as inaugural chairperson. The group is made up of 17 members and is set to foster collaboration, leverage partnerships and encourage participation by stakeholders to attract tourism customers and investment to Cockburn. Mr Ross is an entrepreneur, lawyer and business executive who founded and chaired URBNSURF, a Sydney-based company developing surf parks in Melbourne and Sydney. In July 2020, he joined Aventuur as a partner and leads the development of the company’s global portfolio of surf parks, including the Perth Surf Park.

Tourism Australia has recruited three new board members to support the organisation with attracting international travellers and boosting tourism demand. Linda Wayman was appointed for her expertise in corporate governance through her role as Wayman Advisory principal. Ms Wayman also currently serves as Carers WA chair and is a former board member for Tourism WA and for VenuesWest. Former Australian Hotels Association South Australia chief executive Ian Horne and Queensland-based experienced arts and cultural board member Georgina Richter were also appointed to the Tourism Australia board.

Edith Cowan University has revealed its vice chancellor Steve Chapman will be retiring after more than eight years. Prior to joining ECU as vice chancellor and president in 2015, Mr Chapman was based in Scotland. Here he served as vice principal at University of Edinburgh for three years until 2009 when he was appointed as vice chancellor and principal at Heriot-Watt University. Six years later Mr Chapman moved to Perth and commenced with ECU. He will step down at the end of July 2024.

Diana Kubicki has been recruited as chief financial officer for Perth-based reforestation company Carbon Neutral. Ms Kubicki has a range of experience working for ASX-listed companies in strategic finance roles. Prior to this appointment, she was chief financial officer at Atlas Pearls for five years. Ms Kubicki has also previously worked as Macmahon finance manager, Austal corporate accounting manager and Emeco Group accountant.

Drew Mayhills has been appointed as Australian Institute of Management WA general manager (education, training and events). In this role, Mr Mayhills will work closely with the chief executive and leadership team to provide strategic and operational direction. He brings 11 years of experience in education and innovation to the institute, from his previous roles as a music producer instructor at North Perth music school Lab Six, a sessional academic tutor at Edith Cowan University and as ICT and innovations coordinator at the Department of Education.

ARTRAGE has appointed Jo Thomas as its new chief executive, bringing her experience as an artistic director to the Northbridge-based arts organisation from October. Ms Thomas has worked in Brisbane at Metro Arts for nearly 14 years, holding the dual-roles of chief executive and artistic director for the past eight. Prior to this, she worked at The Committee for Brisbane in the management committee for the Creative Brisbane Collaboration.

Strategic communications consultancy ReGen Strategic has appointed Jonathan Phillips as associate director for stakeholder engagement. Mr Phillips has more than ten years’ experience in the political and union space and followed his passion for workers’ rights to the union movement with positions across Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Mr Phillips was formerly involved in UnionsWA campaigns and has served on the Keep Australia Beautiful WA Council, the UnionsWA Executive Committee, the UnionsWA Finance Committee, and the WA Labor Administration Committee. Prior to his appointment with ReGen Strategic, Mr Phillips was Community and Public Sector Union WA regional secretary for about four years.