Sam Walsh joins Australian Council board

The Australian Council for the Arts has welcomed former Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh and fellow Western Australian Kate Fielding to its board. 

The Australian Council for the Arts is the arts funding body of the federal government and the announcement of four new board members was made yesterday by the Arts Minister Mitch Fifield.

The new members will serve for three terms until June 30 2019.

Prior to Mr Walsh’s latest position as the London-based Rio Tinto chief executive he was grounded in Perth where he served as the Rio Tinto chief executive iron ore and Australia.  

Mr Walsh has also previously served as the chair of the Chamber of Arts and Culture WA, Black Swan State Theatre Company and the Western Australian Chapter of the Australia Business Arts Foundation. 

“Sam Walsh has a long standing commitment to the arts and extensive experience in leadership and business management,” Australian council chair Rupert Myer said.

“I also welcome Kate Fielding, who is a cultural strategist with a commitment to intercultural conversations and is currently the chair of Regional Arts Australia and chair of the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission in WA.”

Ms Fielding is also an award-winning author and is based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA.

The other additional appointees include Zoe Mckenzie, who comes from an advisory background where she has worked with small to medium groups within the arts sector, and Leigh Carmichael, who also has significant industry experience as a seasoned creative director for several small to medium arts, cultural and design organisations.

“With these appointments the board is well positioned to deliver on the Council’s strategic goals,” Mr Myer said.

“I along with the executive team and staff look forward to working with the new and existing board members to foster a culturally ambitious nation.”