Wyatt to chair Perth Festival

Former politician and prominent board director Ben Wyatt has been announced as the new Perth Festival chair, succeeding Tim Ungar.

Mr Wyatt joined the Perth Festival board in 2021 and has been appointed to chair following the end of Mr Ungar’s four-year term.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to be chair of this wonderful and innovative world-leading organisation,” Mr Wyatt said.

“I look forward to getting down to work with the board and the festival team to further embed Perth Festival in the hearts of all Western Australians and position Perth as a culturally vibrant destination for visitors from Australia and around the world.”

Mr Ungar said it was his pleasure to serve the community through Perth Festival since he was appointed to chair in April 2019.

“I find myself continually in awe of artists across all fields of creativity and I am proud to have played a part in helping develop the local arts sector and enabling more people to experience the arts in WA,” Mr Ungar said.

Perth Festival executive director Nathan Bennett said Mr Ungar was a supportive leader and successfully navigated the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[Mr Ungar] is deeply passionate about developing art in WA and about levelling the playing field to ensure all members of our community have access to great art,” Mr Bennett said.

Perth Festival has also confirmed three new members would join the board to replace outgoing board members Adrian Fini and David Flynn.

Communications advisor and manager Paul Downie, lawyer Delwyn Everard and institutional dealer Simon Yeo are set to join the board from April 1.

Perth Festival returns in 2024 from February 9 to March 3.  

Mr Wyatt continues to serve as a non-executive director at several companies including APM, Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy.