Federal Government announces new appointments to Portrait Gallery Board

The Federal Government has announced Sam Meers as a member and future Chair, the reappointment of Penny Fowler as interim Chair and Elizabeth Dibbs as a member of the Board to the National Portrait Gallery.

The National Portrait Gallery holds Australia's largest collection of portraits of notable Australians, telling our story and increasing the understanding and appreciation of Australian people by examining their identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.

Fowler will serve as Chair for the remainder of her final term until March 2025 and will be succeeded by Meers for a two and half year term. Dibbs will be appointed as a member for a three year term from January 2025.

Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the experience and skills of the appointees would be invaluable to the Board and advised "Sam has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the Australian arts sector and her significant experience will provide continued strong leadership for the gallery.

"I'd also like to thank Penny and Elizabeth for their continued service and dedication to the National Portrait gallery.

"Penny has made a significant contribution in advancing the goals of Revive at the gallery, including elevating First Nations representation in the collection and ensuring the institution can present Australian stories through the diverse and emotive genre of portraiture."

Background Information

Sam Meers AO is co-founder and Chair of the Nelson Meers Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic foundation. Meers has extensive experience in the arts and philanthropy sectors and was made an Officer for the Order of Australia in 2018. She is currently chairman of the Brett Whiteley Foundation and a director of Environmental Leadership Australia. Her board appointments have included chairman of Belvoir St Theatre; chairman of Documentary Australia; deputy chairman of the Federal Government Creative Partnerships Australia; a trustee of the Arts Gallery of NSW and a director of the State Library of NSW Foundation. Meers holds degrees in Law and Arts and a Master of letters (literature) from the University of Sydney. She is a member of Chief Executive Women, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Royal Society of NSW.

Elizabeth Dibbs is currently a member of the Board where she has managed the role of chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for three years. She is deputy chancellor of Western Sydney University and chair of its Audit and Risk Committee. She is also deputy chair of the ACT City Renewal Authority and chair of United Way Australia. Elizabeth has previously served as the Western City District Commissioner for the Greater Cities Commission, as a Council Member of Chief Executive Women, chair of its Scholarship Committee and as chair of YWCA NSW.

Penny Fowler AM has served as chair of the of the Board since January 2022 after first being appointed as a member in March 2016. She is the chair of the Herald and Weekly Times and is News Corp Australia's Community Ambassador. She is also chair of the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal, chair of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, a Board member of Tourism Australia, an Advisory Board member of Visy, and a Board member of Tech Mahindra. Fowler is a member of Chief Executive Women and an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and SecondBite. In 2024, Fowler was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia.

Image. Credit: National Portrait Gallery