30 July 2014

STC appoints CBA chief Ian Narev and philanthropist Gretel Packer to board

Sydney Theatre Company Chairman David Gonski has announced that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Ian Narev and noted philanthropist Gretel Packer have joined the company’s board at its most recent meeting. The appointments bring the size of the STC board to fifteen directors.

David Gonski said: “We are delighted that Ian and Gretel are joining us. We are very fortunate indeed to work with an outstanding group of highly skilled, well placed and forward thinking directors, now to include Gretel and Ian. STC is in great shape to face the complexity of business as we embark on a slate of major capital projects including the renewal of The Wharf.”

Ian Narev is Chairman of the New Zealand-based Springboard Trust, which works with principals of primary schools to help improve school effectiveness, a Trustee of the Louise Perkins Foundation, which helps women with advanced breast cancer, Co-Chair of the Advisory Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, an Ambassador for Indigenous Education Foundation and Chair of the Commonwealth Bank Foundation.

Gretel Packer is currently chair of the advisory board for Crown Resorts Foundation Limited, a trustee of the Theatre Company Foundation and a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. She is the founding patron of the Taronga Zoo Conservation Science Initiative and a founding governor of the Taronga Zoo Foundation. Previously, she was a member of the Royal Botanical Gardens Foundation and a director of the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. Recently, The Foundation, of which she is chair, announced a partnership with The Crown Resorts Foundation that will see $200M distributed over the next ten years towards a broad range of cultural and social activities.

Narev and Packer join existing directors Bruce Baird, Jonathan Biggins, Toni Cody, John Connolly, David Gonski, Ann Johnson, Mark Lazberger, Patrick McIntyre, Justin Miller, Daniel Petre, Andrew Stuart, Andrew Upton and Peter Young.

For information: Georgia McKay (9250 1705 / [email protected]) or Tim McKeough (9250 1703 / [email protected])