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Historic Houses Trust Welcomes New 7 May 2014 Trustees

Three new Trustees have been appointed to the Board of the Historic Houses Trust of .

The Historic Houses Trust of NSW, incorporating , is entrusted with the care and conservation of sites of State significance; the appointment of Ms Siobhan Toohill, Ms Naseema Sparks and Mr Alastair Baxter as Trustees reflects the importance of ensuring history, architecture, conservation and sustainability and, governance experience and expertise is maintained on the Board.

Michael Rose, Chairman of HHT since 2010 said, "I am delighted that Naseema, Siobhan and Al are joining us as Trustees. They bring a great mix of skills and insight that will add to the already strong Board. I am also pleased to be chairing a Board where the majority of members are women. This is a great outcome and supports the Government's objectives for gender balance on Government boards".

Acknowledging his appointment, Alastair Baxter said “as an architect, I’m passionate about the buildings that define Sydney. The HHT’s work is central to recording the architecture of the past and informing the decisions we make in the future, for the enjoyment of future generations. As a former rugby union player and, I sit on the Waratah Rugby Board, I would like to see a similar level of excitement for our Heritage, as there is in sport”.

Naseema Sparks commented, "I have always been passionate and curious about the early years of our city: how people lived and worked and in what environment - both built and natural. Historic Houses Trust is in a wonderful position to recreate the tapestry of the early Sydney-siders with its properties, gardens and our city-scapes. These are ultimately the stories of people and their daily lives. I am particularly keen to engage modern-day Sydney-siders in enjoying and appreciating the unique architectural, cultural and experiential foundations of our city”.

Siobhan Toohill expressed “with a background in architecture, urban design and corporate responsibility I look forward to sharing insights around sustainable buildings, community engagement and placemaking. I'm excited about the possibilities of enriching people's lives through connecting them with places, stories and good food - that together create

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meaning, inspiration and a renewed sense of community. Immersing ourselves in the past can help us create new perspectives for future - reminding us about the importance of the social lives of our cities, communities and buildings”.

The Historic Houses Trust of NSW, incorporating Sydney Living Museums, was established in 1980 to manage, maintain and protect significant historic places, buildings, landscapes and collections for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Administered through the Office of Environment and Heritage, HHT is one of the largest state museums in Australia and manages a portfolio of 12 properties of cultural and heritage significance including Hyde Park Barracks Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, The Mint, Vaucluse House and, Elizabeth Farm at Rosehill.

Siobhan Toohill, Naseema Sparks and Alastair Baxter join existing Trustees:

Paddy Carney – Paddy is a partner at PwC and is also a member of its Board of Partners in Australia.

Keith Cottier - Keith is a former director of the highly awarded architectural firm Allen Jack+Cottier. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004.

Associate Professor Grace Karskens – Grace teaches Australian history at the University of NSW. Grace has published extensively including The colony: a history of early Sydney, which won the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction.

Louise McElvogue – with a background in journalism, Louise is a principal of Macleod Media which advises on strategy, technology and media.

Michael Rose - Michael is the chief executive partner of law firm Allens. He is a board member of ChildFund Australia and the ChildFund International Alliance.

Andrew Tink – a former parliamentarian, Andrew is an adjunct professor at ’s law school.

Media Enquiries: for interviews and photos please contact Lara Dawson, Sydney Living Museums T: 0404 043 022 E: [email protected]

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HHT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

NASEEMA SPARKS Naseema Sparks is an experienced company director and serves on a number of ASX- listed, advisory boards as well as Government regulatory bodies. Naseema is a 'top line growth' director: She has a deep understanding of consumers and hands-on management and operational experience in organisations where the main driver of growth and differentiation is innovation and human capital. Her expertise includes retail, online commerce, media & marketing, technology services and manufacturing. Naseema's executive career was as Managing Director of global communications company M&C Saatchi and she holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School

SIOBHAN TOOHILL B.Sc. (Arch), B. Arch., Grad Dip Urban Design Siobhan is the head of group sustainability and community at Westpac where she is responsible for the organisation’s sustainability strategy, responding to pressing social issues including demographic change, economic solutions to environmental challenges and helping customers achieve sustainable financial futures. Her role also encompasses community partnerships, the Westpac Foundation, the Westpac Bicentennial Foundation and Indigenous engagement. Previously she established the sustainability function at Stockland and has held senior design roles with Stockland, Lend Lease and the NSW Government’s Urban Design Advisory Service. Siobhan is also the deputy chair of the Green Building Council of Australia, director of the Australian Building Codes Board and co- founder of the podcast, Out the Front.

ALASTAIR BAXTER B.Sc. (Arch) B. Arch. University of Sydney 2001 RAIA GAICD Alastair is a practicing architect, board member, sustainability engagement consultant, TV Sports commentator and former Australian and NSW professional rugby union player. Alastair has over 13 years experience as an architect at Cox Richardson Architects and Planners with extensive experience in master planning, major sports, leisure, convention and exhibition facilities in Australia and internationally. Outside of architecture, he is a Principal of Sustainable Forward Consulting Group addressing environmental, social and economic sustainability issues in Australia and the South Pacific. He is a director on the Waratah Rugby Board, the Historic Houses Trust Foundation Board and has a number of roles as a TV sports and rugby commentator. As a professional rugby player, Alastair played for the Wallabies and Waratahs from 1999 to 2011 and finished rugby as Australia’s most capped test prop.

MICHAEL ROSE Michael is the chief executive partner of law firm Allens. He is a board member of ChildFund Australia and the ChildFund International Alliance. ChildFund is an international aid and development organisation that supports children and their communities in 55 developing countries. Michael is also a member of the Education, Skills and Innovation and the Indigenous Engagement task forces of the Business Council of Australia.

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KEITH COTTIER AM, AASTC, LFRAIA Keith is a former director of the highly awarded architectural firm Allen Jack+Cottier. In 2001 he was awarded the Gold Medal, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004. Keith has served as a commissioner of the Australian Heritage Commission, as a member of the Heritage Council of NSW, and as a member of the Sydney Cove Authority and the City West Development Corporation. His high-profile projects include Wylie’s Baths, the Argyle Centre, the Submarine Mine Depot at Chowder Bay and Penfold’s Magill Estate in Adelaide.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR GRACE KARSKENS BA, MA, PHD FAHA Grace teaches Australian history at the University of NSW. Grace has published extensively including Inside The Rocks: the archaeology of a neighbourhood, the multi-award winning The Rocks: life in early Sydney and The colony: a history of early Sydney, which won the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Non-Fiction. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities, and is on the boards of the Dictionary of Sydney, the National Museum of Australia’s reCollections journal and a number of international scholarly journals.

ANDREW TINK AM, BA, LLB, HONDLITT Andrew is an adjunct professor at Macquarie University’s law school. After eight years at the bar and 19 years in the NSW Parliament, where among other things he was shadow attorney-general and shadow leader of the House, Andrew stepped back from active politics to focus on writing. In 2010, his biography of William Charles Wentworth won the 'Nib' CAL Waverley Award for Literature. His second book, a biography of Lord Sydney, was published in 2011. And his third, the story of ’s 1940 air disaster, was released in April 2013.

LOUISE MCELVOGUE Louise is a principal of Macleod Media which advises on strategy, technology and media. Louise works with boards, government and executives to set business strategy and policy and to develop e-business, partnerships and digital efficiencies. She has worked in the US, Europe and Australia for clients including McDonald's, Invensys, the ABC, News Limited, Channel 4, the BBC and Societe Generale. Louise was a member of the Federal Government's Convergence Review in 2012. This landmark review of Australia's media and internet regulatory framework recommended a new approach to regulation. She has a background in journalism and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Financial Times Media, Wall St Journal TV, the BBC and CNN.

PADDY CARNEY Paddy is a registered company auditor, a partner at PwC and is also a member of its Board of Partners in Australia. She has over 20 years' financial experience with PwC in the UK and Australia across a broad range of clients with a focus on the retail and consumer sector. She is also a governor of the Sir David Martin Foundation which aims to get more young people off the streets, away from unhealthy situations and into care and rehabilitation.