The Victorian Arts Centre Trust, which oversees the iconic Arts Centre Melbourne, is pleased to welcome two new trustees one being Professor Kerry Arabena and Mr Kee Wong.
Professor Kerry Arabena is a descendant of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait whose work has brought her to the forefront of Indigenous affairs in Australia. A former social worker with a Doctorate in Environmental Science, Professor Arabena has worked in public health, administration, community development and research.
The Trust's core purpose is to enrich the lives of all Victorians culturally, educationally, socially and economically by making a leading contribution to the Victorian creative and visitor economies.
“We are thrilled to welcome Professor Kerry Arabena and Mr Kee Wong, who recently joined our highly skilled Trust team. Each bring considerable expertise, credentials and perspectives to the table. Both appointments are an important part of us delivering on our commitment to be an equitable and inclusive organisation, and our focus on ensuring our priorities, strategic and operational decision-making reflect the diverse, contemporary community we are here to serve,” says Victorian Arts Centre Trust President, Mr Ian Carson AM.
Kerry was the previous Chair for Indigenous Health at the University of Melbourne, Director of Indigenous Health Research at Monash University, CEO of the Lowitja Institute and Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, of which she was the inaugural Chair.
Currently, Kerry is Deputy Chair of Kinaway, the Chamber of Commerce and Founder of IgNITE, a consortium of Indigenous businesses negotiating Indigenous Inclusions in Free Trade Agreements.
Internationally, she has held senior positions with Ecohealth International, consulted for the World Health Organisation, is a current Scientific Commissioner on the Lancet Pathfinder project and completed a Fellows program with the Rockefeller Foundation.
Professor Kerry Arabena holds an honorary professorial position with the University of Melbourne, manages her burgeoning consulting, publishing and coaching companies and has several entrepreneurial programs in development. She was also an Australian of the Year Finalist in 2010.
Professor Arabena and Mr Wong join current Trust members Ian Carson AM (President), Frankie Airey, Paul Barker, Ian Roberts, Helen Silver AO, Leigh Johns OAM and Greta Bradman.