JEFF WEEDEN (CHAIR)
Formerly Chief Executive Officer of Forager Funds Management with experience in banking and finance, notably with Bankers Trust and later as an Executive Director at Macquarie Bank. He is a Cornerstone supporter of the Pinnacle Foundation, an organisation that provides financial assistance and mentoring to young LGBTQIA+ students. He has a long held interest in the visual arts, and as a long-term community member he is passionate about the NAS site.
JENNIFER BYRNE
Journalist and broadcaster. She accepted the role of Chair of the NSW Literature Board in 2019. She was appointed director of the Board of the Ngununggula Gallery in Bowral in 2021. She is currently Patron of the Coastrek organization, raising funds for Beyond Blue, and has been an ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, providing scholarships to indigenous students, since its establishment in 2007.
ROSS MCDIVEN
Former Chairman of the Brookfield Multiplex Group (construction) with extensive experience in managing commercial and cultural precincts and partnerships. At Brookfield Mr. McDiven led teams across projects including the landmark (Olympic) Stadium Australia, Chifley Tower, King Street Wharf, Luna Park and Jones Bay Wharf amongst others. Former Trustee of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences.
JESS MILLER
Councillor Jess Miller was first elected to Council in 2016 and is one of the youngest people to hold elected office at the City of Sydney. Jess served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 2017-2018. Jess is currently Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee, the Cycling Advisory Committee, and a member of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils. In 2014 Jess was voted Sydney’s Woman of the Year and she continues to be a passionate advocate for the environment, and for a diverse nighttime economy.
JOHN MITCHELL
Partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler law firm and current non-executive director of the board of Carriageworks, a venue renowned for its commercial and cultural enterprise and innovation.
WENDY SHARPE AM
Wendy Sharpe is one of Australia’s most acclaimed and awarded artists. She has won the Archibald prize , (and has been a finalist 7 times) the Sulman and a long list of other important awards and prizes, including a commission as an Australian Official War Artist from the Australian War Memorial (the 1st woman since WW2). Most recently awarded the prestigious Gold Award. She taught part time and casual at the National Art School 1990-2005, and has been awarded a National Art School Fellowship. She has held over 60 solo exhibitions around Australia and internationally.
PROF. CHRISTINA SLADE
Christina Slade is Emeritus Professor at Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom where she was Vice-Chancellor from 2012-17. Prior to that she was the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at the City University London and Macquarie University’s Dean of Humanities. She was Professor of Media Theory with the University of Utrecht and the Head of the Creative Communication School at the University of Canberra. She is currently assisting as Rector of Charles Sturt University. She has studied and worked in universities in Europe, the US, Latin America and South Asia. She has a PhD in philosophy of language and logic from ANU, a Diploma of Education from the University of New England and qualifications in Spanish French and (very rusty) Arabic. She has led major EU funded research grants and has authored numerous articles, books and has given policy advice in Westminster and Brussels.
Her UK board appointments include: Trustee of The Royal High School Bath and the Holburne Museum, Trustee and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Association of Commonwealth Universities in the UK, and Director and Chair of the Education, Heritage and Culture Sector Table with the Iraq Britain Business Council. She now chairs the Board of Lincoln University College, serves on the Advisory Board of QS rankings, a UK based group, and on the Boards of the Adelaide based Media Centre for Education Research (MCERA).
BRUCE SOLOMON
Bruce Solomon is the founder and Director of Solotel Hospitality Management, which manages 27 hospitality venues across Sydney and Brisbane. He is also a Trustee of the Lady Mary Fairfax Estate and a director of the Bundanon Trust Board. Bruce and his wife Barbara have been supporters of the National Art School since 2018. To date, they have supported 5 graduating MFA students with the annual Lift Off Award, to support the career development of emerging artists.
