CHAIRPERSON
John Mullen AM
Term: 18 August 2019 – 28 May 2025
John Mullen is the Chair of Telstra and Brambles Ltd. He has worked in the logistics industry for more than two decades including roles as global CEO of DHL Express and global CEO of TNT Express Worldwide. He is also co-founder of the Silentworld Foundation which supports maritime archaeology in Australia.
He spends his spare time diving for early shipwrecks and maintains a private museum dedicated to historical material from early maritime voyages to the Pacific. Mr Mullen brings his expertise in philanthropy, maritime archaeology, leadership and management to the Council. He is the former Chair of the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation, strengthening communication and relationships between the Council and the Foundation.
DIRECTOR & CEO
Daryl Karp AM
Term: 17 June 2022 – 16 June 2027
Daryl Karp has worked as a senior executive in the media and cultural industries for over 20 years. Prior to her appointment as Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum she was the Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House from 2013–22. Ms Karp was the Chair of the Canberra Writers Festival and served as Chair of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors from 2017–21. She has previously held executive roles in broadcast media, independent production houses and the public sector. Previous roles include CEO and Managing Director of Film Australia, Head of Factual Programs (Television) at the ABC, and Non-Executive Director for SBS. She has also served on the boards of the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
MEMBERS
Padraig (Paddy) Crumlin
Term: 20 August 2023 – 21 August 2026
Padraig (Paddy) Crumlin is the National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia and the President of the International Transport Workers Federation (the ITF), representing 20 million transport workers across the globe and he Chairs the ITF Dockers’ Section. He is also the President of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. Paddy also chairs a number of charitable and not-for-profit organisations. These include the Tas Bull Seafarers Foundation, Hunterlink and the International Transport Workers Federation Seafarers Trust. He represents workers at the International Labor Organisation on maritime related labour governance matters. In addition, Mr Crumlin is active in industry development and training, chairing Maritime Employee Training Limited and has served as Chair of the former Maritime Super and was a Director of Sydney Ports Corporation and a Councillor on the National Disability and Carer Council, which worked with government to formulate the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Hon Justice Sarah C Derrington AM
Term: 4 November 2015 – 7 December 2024
Justice Sarah Derrington is a Judge of the Federal Court and has been the President of the Australian Law Reform Commission. She was previously Head of School and Dean of Law at TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, and has also had a distinguished academic career overseas. She holds a PhD in the field of marine insurance law, has an extensive history of involvement in maritime organisations and has served on a range of boards and councils, including the Australian Maritime College and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Hieu Van Le AC
Term: 18 February 2024 – 17 February 2027
Hieu Van Le is a former Governor of South Australia who arrived in Australia from Vietnam as a refugee in 1977. In addition to an almost two- decade career at the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, his previous roles include member and Deputy Chair of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) 1995-2007, and Chair of SAMEAC from 2007 to 2014. In 2007 he was also appointed Lieutenant Governor of South Australia and held the position through to 2014 when he became Governor of South Australia until 2021. During 7 years in his Vice Regal role. Mr Le was the Patron of more than 230 charity and community organisations. Mr Le is currently serving in various roles with many public institutions, community based and not-for-profit organisations.
John Longley AM, CitWA
Term: 6 May 2019 – 5 May 2025
John Longley has had a long career in sailing, initially in dinghies and then in ocean racing. This led to his involvement in the America’s Cup, which saw him competing in five matches from 1974 to 1987, including being project manager and crewman on Australia II during the successful challenge for the Cup in 1983. He was subsequently charged with managing the build of Endeavour, a museum-standard replica of Captain James Cook's famous ship of discovery, HMB Endeavour. After the six-year build he continued to manage the project as the ship circumnavigated the globe visiting 149 ports. Mr Longley was a Board Member and later Chair of the Duyfken 1606 Foundation and managed Duyfken’s tour of Australia in 2006 that marked the 400th anniversary of the first recorded landing of a European ship on the continent. More recently, he was the Event Director of Perth 2011, World Sailing’s Olympic Classes World Championship, which attracted 1200 competitors from 80 nations. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1984, was the West Australian Citizen of the Year (Sport) in 2011 and has been inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.
Warren Mundine AO
Term: 29 April 2021 – 29 April 2024
Nyunggai Warren Mundine lives in Sydney and is a descendant of Australia’s Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yuin First Nations. He is a businessman, entrepreneur, company director, advisor to governments and businesses, media commentator, TV and webinar show host, author and opinion writer. He was on the Board of SBS. He is a political strategist and advocate for Australian economic reform and growth, empowering the First Nations people of Australia to build businesses and sustainable economies. Mr Mundine’s life and career are shaped by a personal commitment to regional and Indigenous economic development. He has over 40 years’ experience working in the public, business, policy, arts and community sectors.
Judy Potter
Term: 13 May 2021 – 13 May 2024
From Adelaide, Judy Potter has over 30 years’ experience as a CEO and Board Director. She is currently Chair of the Adelaide Festival Corporation and the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, and a Director of Foundation Adelaide Festival. Her previous appointments include Chair of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Central School of Art, Hillcrest Trust Fund, Community Grants Fund and Director of Musica Viva Australia, Come Out Youth Arts Festival, Duke of Edinburgh Award and South Australian Living Artists Week. She has worked as a consultant in the government and non-government sectors, and is the former CEO of SA Great, Carclew Youth Arts Centre and the South Australian Youth Arts Board.
Alison Page
Term: 12 August 2017 – 28 March 2026
Alison Page is a descendant of the Dharawal and Yuin people and an award-winning designer and film producer, co-founding Zakpage in 2015. She is currently Associate Dean (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) at UTS Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building, and a member of several cultural boards including the National Australia Day Council, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, and the National Museum of Australia’s Indigenous Reference Group. She is the founder of the National Aboriginal Design Agency and in 2015 she was inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame and in 2022 was the Interior Design Excellence Awards Gold Medal winner. Alison was a panelist for eight years on the ABC television program The New Inventors, which showcased Australian innovation and has previously served on numerous boards, including the Indigenous Land Corporation, the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Rear Admiral Christopher Smith AM, CSM, RAN
Term: from 16 December 2022
Rear Admiral Christopher Smith assumed the role of Commander Australian Fleet on 16 December 2022. He joined the Royal Australian Naval College in 1989. His seagoing appointments have included HMA Ships Stalwart, Parramatta (III), Brunei, Perth (II), Ipswich, Geraldton, Canberra (II), Anzac and Command of HMA Ships Gladstone, Darwin and Canberra (III). His shore appointments have included staff officer to the Chief of Defence Force, Deputy Director of Sailors’ Career Management, Director Navy Warfare Professional Requirements, 2015 Force Structure Review team, Commander Surface Force, Director General Littoral and most recently Deputy Chief of Navy. His operational deployments have included Operation Helpem Fren in 2003, Operation Catalyst as the Australian Liaison Officer to the US Central Command Forward Headquarters in 2008 and the inaugural LHD operational deployment in Canberra (III) providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in support of Operation Fiji Assist 2016.
Rear Admiral Smith completed the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2004 and the US Naval War College in 2013. He holds a Masters of Management in Defence Studies, a Masters in Maritime Studies and a Masters of Arts (International Relations).
Arlene Tansey
Term: 3 August 2018 – 2 September 2024
Arlene Tansey is a Director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, TPG Telecom Limited, McMillan Shakespeare Group and Lend Lease Investment Management. Before becoming a non-executive director she worked in commercial and investment banking in Australia and in investment banking and law in the United States. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law Centre and an MBA from New York University. She is a member of Chief Executive Women and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Arlene Tansey is originally from New York and has lived and worked in the United States, South America, and Europe. She has lived in Australia for the past 29 years and is an Australian citizen.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CHAIRPERSON
Councillor Alison Page
MEMBERS
Councillor Warren Mundine AO
Kenny Bedford
Term: 4 March 2020 – 30 June 2026
Mr Kenny Bedford lives on and represents the remote island of Erub (Darnley) on the Torres Strait Regional Authority Board. He is a Board Member of Reconciliation Australia and has held the Executive position of Portfolio Member for Fisheries since 2008. Mr Bedford is President of the Erub Fisheries Management Association, a member of Erubam Le Traditional Land and Sea Owners (TSI) Corporation and sits on Far North Queensland’s Abergowrie College Community Consultative Committee. He has a Bachelor of Applied Health Science and Diploma of Youth Welfare, received the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship in 2000, and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.
Dillon Kombumerri
Term: 4 March 2020 – 30 June 2026
Dillon Kombumerri is employed by the NSW Government Architects Office as a Principal Government Architect. He is a registered architect with 30 years’ experience and has designed several award-winning projects. During this time his work has focused heavily on projects addressing the well-documented disadvantages faced by Indigenous communities. Mr Kombumerri has extensive experience in tutoring and lecturing on a national and international level. He has been Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney since 2012. Mr Kombumerri has featured on national radio and television and written articles for several highly regarded professional journals.
Ray Ingrey
Term: 4 March 2020 – 30 June 2026
Ray Ingrey is of Dhungutti and Dharawal descent and is from the La Perouse Aboriginal community at Botany Bay. He holds a number of leadership positions including Chairperson of the Gujaga Foundation and Deputy Chairperson of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council and leads language, culture and research activities within his community.
Professor John Maynard
Term: 4 March 2020 – 30 June 2026
John Maynard is of the Worimi people of Port Stephens, New South Wales. He is the Director of the Purai Global Indigenous History Centre and Chair of Aboriginal History at the University of Newcastle. He completed a Diploma of Aboriginal Studies from the University of Newcastle in 1995 and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Australia in 1999. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Newcastle in 2003, examining the rise of early Aboriginal political activism. Professor Maynard was an Australian Research Council post-doctoral fellow and was Deputy Chairperson of Council with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra until 2016. He was the recipient of the Aboriginal History (Australian National University) Stanner Fellowship for 1996 and the New South Wales Premier’s Indigenous History Fellowship for 2003–04. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association 2000–02 and the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Committee 2006–07, he has worked with and within many urban, rural and remote Aboriginal communities. Professor Maynard is the author of twelve books.
Nicholas Wappett
Term: 4 March 2020 – 30 June 2026
Nick Wappett is Research Account Manager at CFS Equities & Alliance Partners. Nick has previously worked at JBWere, Investment Capability and Impact Investing. Nick participated in the NAB Graduate Program and participated in Career Trackers Indigenous Internship Program. Nick has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney, a Diploma of Stockbroking from Deakin University and is an accredited Foreign Exchange Advisor.
MORE INFORMATION
Audit, Finance and Risk Charter November 2022 (PDF, 313KB)
Download PDF of current and former Councillors