The Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The Foundation aims to ensure that the museum is a place for everyone to enjoy, share and learn about the stories that are significant to our past and that will influence our future.
We help the museum to achieve its priorities, especially around building and preserving the National Maritime Collection, telling stories about our migration history, furthering our understanding through maritime archaeology and highlighting the importance of Indigenous connections to our seas, rivers and waterways.
The Foundation is overseen by a board of directors, chaired by Mr Daniel Janes. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible.
Directors of the Board of the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation
Dan Janes
Term: 17 August 2019 – 16 August 2025
Dan Janes was appointed Chairman of the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation on 17 August 2019. Mr Janes is the Managing Director and Co-Head of Investment Banking (Australia and New Zealand) at Bank of America, and previously held senior positions at Credit Suisse, Barclays and ABN AMRO.
During his 20 year investment banking career in London, New York and Sydney, Dan has advised and led, on behalf of clients, a wide range of high profile transactions. These have involved many of Australia's landmark transactions, including over $120bn successful M&A transactions and over $60bn of capital markets transactions. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of England and Wales.
Dan has studied maritime history and has maintained an avid interest.
Ms Daryl Karp AM ( ex-offico member)
Ms Daryl Karp has worked as a senior executive in the broadcast 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 (MoAD) at Old Parliament House from 2013 to 2022. During her time at MoAD she established a strategic direction that focused on ‘the spirit of Australian democracy and the power of your voice within it’, positioning the museum as a new kind of town square, based on the democratic principles of equality, freedom, justice, representation.
Ms Karp was the Chair of the Canberra Writers Festival and served as Chair of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors from 2017 to 2021. She has previously held executive roles in broadcast media, independent production houses and the public sector. Previous roles have included 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 and is a current member of the Yindyamarra Advisory Group.
John Mullen AM (ex-offico member)
Mr Mullen is the Chairman of Telstra and Toll Holdings Ltd. Until recently, Mr Mullen was the Chief Executive Officer of Asciano 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 currently on the board of Kimberley Foundation Australia, and is co-founder of the Silentworld Foundation which supports maritime archaeology in Australia.
John is passionate about maritime exploration and indigenous rock art in the Kimberley, WA. He spends his spare time diving for colonial shipwrecks and maintains a private museum dedicated to historical material from early maritime voyages to the Pacific. Mr Mullen will bring his expertise in philanthropy, maritime archaeology, leadership and management to the Council. As the former Chair of the Australian National Maritime Foundation, his appointment will strengthen communication and relationships between the Council and the Foundation. He was named a member (AM) in the Order of Australia for significant service to business, and to the community in 2020.
Simon Chan AM
Term: 2 February 2021 - 2 February 2024
Simon Chan is the Director and Founder of Art Atrium, an art gallery exhibiting contemporary Australian, Asian and Aboriginal art with a special focus on cross cultural collaboration and expression in art as a reflection of our multicultural society in a globalised world. Simon is also a practising architect and Director of SCA Architects. Simon has been involved in a broad range of not for profit Foundations and community organisations. Simon is a Director on the Board of VisAsia at Art Gallery of NSW supporting and promoting Asian art and culture and a Council member of the Power Institute Foundation for Art and Visual Culture at The University of Sydney. He is a Board member of Multicultural NSW Advisory Board and Chair of Sydney South Regional Advisory Council. Simon is also a Director on the Board of Parramasala, an annual Multicultural arts and culture festival and an Executive Committee Member of Contemporary Asian Australian Performance supporting and promoting Asian Australians in performing arts.
Simon is a Director and former Chair on the Board of Aboriginal Benefits Foundation fundraising for various Aboriginal communities throughout Australia with a focus on art and culture. In his role as the President of Haymarket Chamber of Commerce, Simon is actively involved in representing and acting as a conduit between businesses and residents of the Haymarket and Chinatown area in Sydney and all Federal, State and Local government authorities. Simon is also a Committee Member of the NSW Government Chinese Garden of Friendship Advisory Committee working with NSW Government to improve community engagement with the garden as well as a Board member of the NSW Government Geographical Names Board. He has also been involved as a Community Ambassador for the Art Gallery of NSW acting as volunteer guide of the gallery for the Chinese community and a Community Representative and member of the Woollahra Council Cultural Committee. Simon is also a member of the Sydney Water Community Advisory Committee and the Public Officer and Executive Committee member of Chinese Australian Forum. Simon was the recipient of the inaugural NSW Premier's Multicultural Award for Arts & Culture in 2013.
Peter Dexter AM
Term: 18 August 2019 – 17 August 2023
Mr Dexter retired from his executive role as Regional Director of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, Oceania, in September 2005 to assume a range of non-executive appointments. Mr Dexter is a director of the Board of the Australian National Maritime Foundation and former Chairman of the Australian National Maritime Museum. He is a fellow (FAICD) of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by the King of Norway for his contribution to Norwegian/Australian business and his work during the Tampa crisis. He was named a member (AM) in the Order of Australia for services to the development of the shipping and maritime industries through leadership roles, to international relations and to the community in 2005.
David Mathlin
Term: 6 December 2019 – 6 December 2025
An avid sailor, Mr David Mathlin has a strong interest in maritime history. He has qualifications in Science, Engineering and Business, and served with Sinclair Knight Merz Ltd for many years becoming senior principal and chairing the Australian arm. He has served as a director of the listed Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund, as a director of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and has served on various advisory Boards. He is currently a member of the Chairman’s Council at the Australian Chamber Orchestra. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and the institute of Company Directors.
Dr Jeanne-Claude Strong
Term: 6 December 2019 – 6 December 2025
Dr Jeanne-Claude Strong is a practising medical doctor and has been a non-executive director of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research Foundation since 2011. She is also a competitive sailor with numerous wins to her name, including the Etchells Australasian Championship in 2015.
Arlene Tansey
Term: 6 December 2019 – 6 December 2025
Arlene Tansey is a Director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, Adelaide Brighton Limited, Primary Health Care, Infrastructure NSW and Lend Lease Investment Management. Arlene is also a member of the advisory board of Serco Asia Pacific.
Before becoming a non-executive Director, Arlene Tansey 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 23 years and is an Australian citizen. She is married with two daughters.