Country Arts WA announces new Board members
Regional Arts WA
The state leader for regional arts and culture in Western Australia, Country Arts WA, is pleased to announce its new Board of Directors with its new Chair, Sue Middleton.
With skills across education, strategy development, legal, finance, marketing, governance, and community development, each new Board member brings a wealth of experience and expertise to guide Country Arts WA in its role in fostering diversity, celebration, sustainability and relevance in regional arts.
Country Arts WA’s new board. (Left to right) Back: David Martin, Sue Middleton, James Jarvis, John Lambrecht, Wendy Wise and Fiona Sinclair. Front: Jan Stewart, Debbie Carmody, Jahna Cedar and Kellee Aberg. Picture by Jon Solmundson
At its inaugural meeting in December 2017, the Board unanimously selected Sue Middleton as the new Chair. Ms Middleton brings exceptional experience across leadership, industry, and rural community development. Immediate past board roles include the National Chair of the Landcare Advisory Committee, Board Member of Landcorp and Chair of the WA Regional Development Trust overseeing the Royalties for Regions program.
The newly appointed Chair has a deep commitment to the growth of regional WA and looks forward to working with Country Arts WA and the regional arts sector.
“I am very honoured to be appointed Chair at an exciting time in Country Arts WA’s history. I am passionate about the future of regional and rural Western Australia; I know the arts play a pivotal role in creating opportunities for social impact and making local communities liveable, accessible, and diverse places to live.
“Country Arts WA is a highly reputable and dynamic not-for-profit organisation with a huge heart. I look forward to working with its passionate Board and staff to continue its great work in the regions.” Ms Middleton said.
Country Arts WA Executive Director Paul MacPhail says, “Last month’s meeting felt like a great beginning for our new Board and a validation of the organisation’s work over the past 18 months as we’ve undergone an internal review of our governance processes and program direction.”
“We thank the outgoing Board for their foresight, hard work, commitment and generosity and look forward to the next few years as we reinvigorate the regional arts sector. We will focus more on our Statewide brief, base more of what we do on localised decision-making and improve and increase all the resources we provide to the regions.”
Country Arts WA also welcomes the following newly appointed Directors onto its Board; Debbie Carmody CEO of Tjuma Pulka in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Jahna Cedar strong Indigenous community leader in the Pilbara, John Lambrecht CEO of Regional Development Peel Inc., David Martin Co-founder and Director of Alex Hotel and Owner of Stormflower Vineyard in Margret River, Fiona Sinclair of Southern Forest Arts, Jan Stewart former CEO of Lotterywest, and Wendy Wise former General Manager of Perth International Arts Festival. They will join existing Board members Kellee Aberg and James Jarvis CEO of The Nintirri Centre in Tom Price.
