The Albanese Labor Government has made a range of new appointments to the boards of some of the country's most cherished national collecting institutions.
- The Hon Hieu Van Le AC has been appointed as the Chair of the Australian National Maritime Museum Council for a three year term.
- Mr Amit Singh has been appointed as a part-time member of the Council of the National Museum of Australia for a three year term.
- Mr Matt Heine has been appointed as a part-time member of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia for a three year term.
- Ms Marikit Santiago has been appointed as a part-time member of the National Portrait Gallery Board for a three year term.
Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointees would each bring a valuable, unique perspective and years of dedication to our treasured national museums and galleries.
"Each new appointee is an expert in their own right, bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise in their dedicated fields.
"Ensuring our beloved cultural institutions have the strongest leadership is the best way safeguard them for future generations."
Mr Hieu Van Le AC is the Chair and Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. His previous extensive experience includes serving as Governor of South Australia from 2014 to 2021, Lieutenant Governor of South Australia from 2007 to 2014, Chair of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission 2007 to 2014 and an almost two‑decade career at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). He arrived in Australia from Vietnam as a refugee in 1977.
Mr Le's distinguished career and service awards include the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for outstanding service to the community and to the state of South Australia; Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for outstanding service to community, social inclusion and international engagements; the Centenary of Federation Medal for service to the advancement of multiculturalism; an Australia Day Medal for outstanding service to ASIC; and a Cavalieri (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his outstanding service and unwavering support to culturally and linguistically diverse communities in South Australia, including the Italian community.
He has been a member of the Council since February 2024, and more recently was its Acting Chair.
Mr Amit Singh is the Managing Partner of Mandala, an economics, strategy, and research advisory firm at the forefront of public policy innovation, cutting-edge data insights and leading technology trends. He was Managing Director in Accenture's global economic insights practice and was the global head of economic policy at Uber Technologies Inc. He previously served as the senior economic adviser to two Prime Ministers, a Deputy Prime Minister and a Leader of the Opposition. He began his career as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer. He is a member of the advisory board of the Centre for Australia-India Relations as well as the Independent Advisory Board for Services Australia, and an external member of the Strategy and Social Policy Committee of the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Mr Matt Heine is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of netwealth group (ASX:NWL) and an accomplished business leader with skills in wealth management, leadership, business strategy and digital innovation. He has a strong commitment to the arts and philanthropy and currently serves on the Board of the Heide Museum of Modern Art and as a member of the National Gallery Foundation. He is also a member of the Christ Church Grammar School Melbourne Investment Committee, as well as holding directorships on numerous related netwealth and personal companies.
Ms Marikit Santiago is a Filipina-Australian artist living and working in Western Sydney. She graduated with a Master of Fine Art from the University of New South Wales in 2017 and was on the Art Gallery of New South Wales Advisory Committee from 2022 until 2023. Ms Santiago has exhibited in a variety of art spaces in Australia and abroad. Her work reflects her upbringing to migrant parents in Australia. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the 2020 Sir John Sulman Prize, the 2024 La Prairie Arts Ward and was selected as a finalist in the Archibald Prize in 2016, 2021 and 2023.
