Composition
Section 10 of the Cultural Facilities Corporation Act 1997 provides for the CFC Board to have seven members. The Chair, Deputy Chair, and four Members of the CFC Board are appointed by the Minister in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Management Act 1996 (the FM Act), Sections 78– 79. The CFC’s Chief Executive Officer is also a Member of the CFC Board in accordance with Section 80 of the FM Act.
The functions of the Chair, Deputy Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and associated provisions relating to Board Members, are set out in the FM Act (Division 9.3).
Meetings
The CFC’s Board meetings are convened and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the FM Act (Division 9.4).
Board Charter
The CFC Board has adopted a Board Charter [PDF 400.2 KB] [Word 100.1 KB] to guide its operations and performance.
Members
DR MATHEW TRINCA
(Chair)
TONI CODY
(Deputy Chair)
An experienced Non-Executive Director, Advisory Board Chair, Small Business Investor and Consultant. Past co-owner of Macro Wholefoods and Cody Outdoor, and currently consulting to SME’s and Start Up’s. With over 25 years’ experience in the Australian Arts and Cultural sector as Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director of National and State Companies and Institutions and holding Chair and Membership roles in Audit and Risk, Finance and Remuneration Board Committees. A passionate lover of the Arts, understanding the importance of providing access and participation in all art forms, to all Australians across all mediums, that not just provide joy but encourage curious, inquisitive and at times retrospective thinking. Current and past Boards include The Australian Ballet, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Sydney Theatre Company, Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Intu Wellness and The National Film and Sound Archive.
GORDON RAMSAY
(Ex officio as Chief Executive Officer)
Gordon is a former member of the ACT Executive (2016–2020) during which he held 6 portfolios, including Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts and was a member of various national ministerial councils. He has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law (Hons) from Sydney University and a Bachelor of Theology from the Sydney College of Divinity. After working as a lawyer in commercial and intellectual property at Freehill Hollingdale and Page he and his family moved to Canberra where he led Kippax Uniting Church and UnitingCare Kippax for 19 years working in areas of service, social equality, inclusion and poverty. He led governance and organisational restructure with UnitingCare NSW.ACT (and then Uniting) from 2011-2016. He led the ACT Targeted Assistance Strategy and was a member of the ACT Community Inclusion Board between 2006–2008. He has provided consultancy support on policy and organisational governance, strategy and structure locally and nationally for much of the past two decades. He has been an ACT Community Inclusion Advocate, member of the ACT Better Services Taskforce, Community Champion for the “Time to talk: Canberra 2030” and led ACT Anti-Poverty work. He is currently a member of the Board of The Neighbourhood Canberra and the Uniting Church National Assembly Taskforce to develop an apology to the LGBTIQ+ community. He was recognised in the Australian of the Year awards as an ACT Local Hero finalist in 2015.
DR RACHAEL COGHLAN
Rachael Coghlan is an award-winning cultural and creative sector leader and passionate Canberran. She is an experienced Executive, CEO, Board Director and researcher with a track record of executing well-designed strategic renewal and commercial programs in complex environments to achieve quality outcomes. She has led transformational change programs across national institutions and small arts organisations. She led the strategic transformation of Parliament House’s public engagement, implementing an ambitious renewal program of retail strategy (instore and online), visitor services, tourism products and external collaborations to maximise growth, revenue and public benefit. As CEO Craft ACT she curated an international program of exhibitions, residencies and cross-disciplinary collaborations, strengthened stakeholder relationships and organisational stability, and significantly grew DESIGN Canberra festival attendance and philanthropy. Rachael has led major capital works and infrastructure projects including the National Arboretum Canberra and National Museum gallery redevelopment. Rachael has built a reputation as a trusted, professional and innovative collaborator with artists, professionals, educators, industry and government, and was recognised for her contribution to architecture and the public interest with an Australian Institute of Architects Clem Cummings Award. Her track record of outstanding results reflects her belief in people: building high performing boards and teams, and bringing together diverse disciplines and methodologies, to achieve extraordinary results and collective wellbeing. She gained her PhD in museum studies from the Australian National University (where she was a visiting fellow), and her thesis on museum audience participation received an Australian Museums and Galleries Association National Award for Research.
RICHARD EVANS
Richard Evans is currently Managing Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, President of Live Performance Australia, Chair of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals and Principal of REĂ Consulting. An experienced CEO, non-executive director, cultural precinct leader, producer, and public servant, Richard Evans has held roles as Executive Director of The Bell Shakespeare Company, Managing Director of Sydney’s BridgeClimb, Executive Director of The Australian Ballet, Interim Managing Director of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and CEO of Sydney Opera House. In his role at the Opera House Richard oversaw 2,500 events annually, attracted over $200 million in major capital works funding, established a number of new festivals and activations, significantly developing the public domain and presided over a period of unprecedented economic, brand, tourism visitation and audience growth. Richard has a deep knowledge of and experience in managing creative companies, a strong entrepreneurial outlook and a solid record of commercial growth and government relations. Richard is a passionate place maker and leader of high-performing teams, with an acute sense of potential for public spaces and cultural infrastructure projects. Following a 20-year career Richard Evans established REĂ Consulting Pty Ltd in early 2013. REĂ Consulting Pty Ltd is a boutique consulting firm offering business, philanthropic, contemporary communications and marketing insights and strategies.
TIM LO SURDO
Tim is the Founder of Democracy in Colour - Australia's first racial and economic justice organisation led by people of colour. Before starting Democracy in Colour, he worked with low-paid workers to set up Hospo Voice - a new union in hospitality. Previously, Tim was the Head of Campaigns at Oaktree (largest youth-focussed international development organisation with over 200,000 members), a senior adviser to two Senators, the Campaigns Director at Jhatkaa (a movement of 1.9 million people taking action for a fairer India), the National Communications Director at UN Youth Australia, and co-founded Open Sky (one of India’s most well-known performance art communities). Tim has served as a Non-Executive Director on 15 Boards and is currently a Director of Plan International, No to Violence, the Australian Marine Conservation Society, Environment Victoria, the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Inner Melbourne Community Legal, the Consumer Policy Research Centre, and the Victorian Government's Sustainability Fund. For his work, Tim was appointed in 2020 as one of 17 UN Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals.
CHRISTINE SHANNON
Christine Shannon has been appointed as a member of the Board and as well as Chair of the CFC’s Audit and Risk Committee. Christine brings over 25 years of experience in delivering risk and financial management expertise and strategy, as well as governance operations leadership, to the CFC. Her career highlights include delivering the first whole-of-Defence governance and accountability framework and enterprise risk management framework for the then Defence Materiel Organisation's $6 billion capital investment program. With her extensive global and local cultural networks, Christine is well-positioned to support the CFC's growth strategy, including the redevelopment of the Canberra Theatre Centre and the expansion of the Canberra Museum and Gallery. Her astute business acumen in anticipating and managing political and corporate risks, and in building stakeholder support, will be invaluable to the CFC in achieving its objectives. Christine is a governance expert and legal professional who has advised corporations on marketing and growth strategies, legal risk, enterprise-level risk, and optimal corporate structures with experience in leading workforce change, cyber security, and asset management. She is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Master of Laws, MBA, Bachelor of Commerce/Laws degrees and AMusA.