CHAIR OF THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL BOARD APPOINTED

The Australian Government has appointed Professor Wesley Enoch AM as Chair of the Australia Council Board of Creative Australia for a 4-year term.

The Australia Council Board provides leadership to Creative Australia – the Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body, championing creativity to benefit all Australians.

Professor Enoch has been Deputy Chair since August 2023 and has led the Board as Acting Chair since Robert Morgan’s retirement in May.

As well as being the first practising artist, he’s also the first First Nations person to hold the position.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said Professor Enoch’s appointment would ensure Creative Australia can deliver for our arts sector.

“Wesley has been instrumental during the transformation of Creative Australia and delivering on Creative Australia’s commitments under the National Cultural Policy - Revive.

His wealth of experience as an industry leader and his knowledge of Australia’s creative sector will provide the Board with valuable leadership.”

“I’d also like to again thank Robert for his years of service to the Board and dedication to championing the arts.”

Professor Wesley Enoch is a proud Quandamooka man from Minjerribah, an internationally acclaimed playwright and artistic director.

Professor Enoch has written and directed iconic Indigenous productions including The 7 Stages of Grieving, Black Medea and The Story of The Miracles at Cookie’s Table. He has also directed productions of The Sapphires, Black Diggers, I am Eora, The Man From Mukinupin, Yibiyung, Parramatta Girls and Black Cockatoo.

Professor Enoch has been Professor of Indigenous Practice, Creative Industries at Queensland University of Technology since 2021. He leads the national conversation on the place of Indigenous Australia within the creative industries through his unique First Nations perspective on learning, teaching and research, fostering career pathways and opportunities for students and professionals. He was also the Artistic Director of the Sydney Festival from 2017 to 2020 and was previously the Artistic Director at Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts and the Ilbijerri Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative.