Board appointed to lead Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project

With builders having broken ground on the redevelopment of the Melbourne Arts Precinct, the Victorian Government has announced the appointment of the board to lead Australia’s what is largest ever cultural infrastructure project.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos announced the nine-member board for Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation (MAP Co) - the entity spearheading the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project.

MAP Co has been established to oversee the precinct revamp which includes The Fox: NGV Contemporary, along with extensive refurbishment of Arts Centre Melbourne’s iconic State Theatre and the addition of new cafes, restaurants, and 18,000 metre² of new green public space

MAP Co will also operate and manage Fed Square and when complete, connect the precinct, public space and shared services supporting NGV and Arts Centre.

The board is chaired by experienced company director and chartered accountant James MacKenzie, chairperson of the Victorian Funds Management Corporation, the Suburban Rail Loop Authority Board and Slater & Gordon Lawyers.

MacKenzie chaired the Interim Melbourne Arts Precinct Board.

Bringing together diverse skills and experience across finance, infrastructure, governance, First Peoples engagement, social equity and the creative industries, the board members are:

• Peter Konidaris, national managing partner of PwC’s Government, Health and Infrastructure business

• Paul Barker, member of the Victorian Arts Centre Trust and former chairperson of Fed Square Pty Ltd

• Cath Bowtell, Chief Executive of Industry Fund Services and Chair of the Royal Women’s Hospital Board

• Aneetha de Silva, Managing Director Government for Aurecon Group

• Belinda Duarte, Chief Executive of Culture is Life and former co-chair of Reconciliation Victoria

• Tony Ellwood AM, Director of the National Gallery of Victoria

• Ari Suss, Chief Executive of Fox Special Projects Group

• Christine Wyatt, independent urban strategist and Deputy Chair of the Suburban Rail Loop Authority Board

Announcing the appointments, Minister Dimopoulos stated “this history-making and city-shaping project will elevate Melbourne as a global creative and cultural city.”

Image: Artist's impression of the redeveloped Melbourne Arts Precinct. Credit: Hassell.