Documents Relating To The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (abc) Board: Non‐executive Director (ned) And Deputy Chair Vacancies.
Infrastructure
AI summary
This cabinet submission to the Minister for Communications seeks approval to fill two ABC Board vacancies: a non-executive Director (NED) position that became vacant following Peter Tonagh's resignation on 23 December 2024, and a Deputy Chair vacancy arising on 6 August 2025 when Georgina Somerset's six-month term ends. Under the ABC Act, the Deputy Chair is appointed by the Governor-General from the Board's NEDs and serves on a part-time basis for up to five years. The submission includes a Nomination Panel report on the NED selection process, current Board membership details, eligible NED candidates for the Deputy Chair role, and relevant selection criteria. The Minister was asked to action the matter by 4 August 2025 to enable timely Deputy Chair appointment. No financial impacts or media opportunities were identified.
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FOI 26-174 - Document 1
MS25-001358
Dispatched to MO 1 JUL 2025
# Australian Government
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
To: The Hon Anika Wells MP, Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport (for decision)
Subject: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board: non-executive Director (NED) and Deputy Chair vacancies
Critical Date: Please action by 4 August 2025 to enable a Deputy Chair appointment $47C
$47C
PRETESTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
MS25-001358
## Key Points:
1. This submission seeks that you progress the current NED vacancy and upcoming Deputy Chair vacancy on the ABC Board. The current NED vacancy on the ABC Board arose on 23 December 2024, following the resignation of the Deputy Chair and NED Mr Peter Tonagh. The ABC Deputy Chair vacancy arises on 6 August 2025, when the 6-month term of Ms Georgina Somerset AM ends.
ABC NED vacancy
PROTECTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
MS25-001358
# PROTECTED CABINET
## ABC Deputy Chair vacancy
6. s47C
Under the ABC Act (s 12(3)), the Deputy Chair is appointed by the Governor-General from the ABC Board’s NEDs. Attachment C outlines the NEDs eligible to serve as Deputy Chair s47C
s47C
8. The Deputy Chair appointment is held on a part-time basis for a period not exceeding 5 years (ABC Act, s 12(2)). s47C
## Next steps
s47C
s47C
s47C
## Financial impacts: N/A
s47C
PROTECTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
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Released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
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PROTECTED CABINET
s47C
s47C
Media Opportunities: N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A: Nomination Panel report – ABC NED selection process
Attachment B: ABC Board membership as at July 2025
Attachment C: ABC NED information
Attachment D: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Non-executive Director – Selection Criteria) Determination 2024
Cleared By: Bridget Gannon
Position: First Assistant Secretary
Division: Media Policy
Ph: 02 6136 s22(1)
Mob: s22(1)(a)(ii)
Contact Officer: Margaret Lopez
Position: Assistant Secretary
Branch: Broadcasting and Gambling
Ph: 02 6136 s22(1)
Mob: s22(1)(a)(ii)
Instructions for Ministerial Services: Nil
Do you require a signed hardcopy to be returned: No
Responsible Adviser: s22(1)(a)(ii)
PDMS Distribution List: Jim Betts, James Chisholm, Bridget Gannon, Margaret Lopez, s22(1)(a)(ii), s22(1)(a)(ii), s22(1)(a)(ii), appointments@infrastructure.gov.au
PROTECTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
MS25-001358
# Additional Information:
## Appointments to the ABC Board
The Governor-General appoints the Deputy Chair and non-executive Directors to the ABC Board on your recommendation. In accordance with the Cabinet Handbook (subsection 115(a)), these are considered to be ‘significant appointments’. As such, you must write to the Prime Minister seeking his approval, or at his discretion, the approval of Cabinet. A proposed appointment is then considered by the Federal Executive Council (ExCo).
The ABC Board must consist of the Managing Director, the Chair, the staff-elected Director and not fewer than 4 nor more than 6 other Directors (ABC Act, s 12).
s47C
RECEIVED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
5
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
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ABC NED – selection process summary
S47C
Applications opened on 10 February 2025 and closed on 3 March 2025 following a national advertising campaign:
S47C, S47E(c)
S47C
The Panel’s report includes applications and CVs for recommended candidates, referee reports and private interest declarations. Background checks were conducted for all shortlisted candidates
S47C
S47C
## NED selection criteria
The ABC Act (s 12(5)) and the *Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Non-executive Director – Selection Criteria) Determination 2024* (see Attachment D) outline matters you must consider when recommending an appointee to the Governor-General. The Panel’s assessment is based on these requirements.
Subsection 12(5)(b) of the ABC Act outlines matters you must consider when appointing a NED, including that you must be satisfied that the person is suitable for appointment because of:
- experience in connection with the provision of broadcasting services or in communications or management; or
- expertise in financial or technical matters; or
- cultural or other interests relevant to the oversight of a public organisation engaged in the provision of broadcasting services.
## Gender diversity target and Geographic representation
The Australian Government gender diversity targets are for women and men each holding at least 40 per cent of positions at the individual board level. The ABC Board currently has 33 per cent male (2 members) and 66 per cent female (4 members) representation. Three members are from New South Wales, and one member each from Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
The Managing Director and staff-elected Director are exempt from gender and geographical reporting as these are not government appointments.
PROTECTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
FOI 26-174 - Document 1
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# Nomination Panel
Section 24A of the ABC Act establishes the independent Panel, which is responsible for conducting merit-based selection processes for appointments to the ABC and SBS boards.
Subsection 24B(1)(d) of the ABC Act provides that the Panel must submit a written report to the Minister of the outcome of the selection process that contains a list of at least 3 candidates who are nominated for the appointment, and a comparative assessment of candidates. $^{47C}$
PROTECTED CABINET
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7720
FOI 26-174- Document 1
Attachment A
The Hon Anika Wells MP
Minister for Communications
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Minister,
Report of the Independent Nomination Panel on the appointment of a Director of the Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
We are writing in response to a letter of 24 January 2025 from the then Minister, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, requesting that the Independent Nomination Panel (the Panel) conduct a merit-based selection process for a non-executive Director vacancy on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board in accordance with Part III A of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 (ABC Act).
## Advertising
Advertising for the ABC Board Director position was in market from 10 February 2025 to 2 March 2025. Applications opened on 10 February 2025 and closed on 3 March 2025.
Advertisements appeared in the following publications:
**National and Metropolitan newspapers:**
The Australian Financial Review, The Weekend Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The West Australian.
**Digital:**
The Australian Financial Review, LinkedIn job board listing, digital display (programmatic), Women on Boards, SEEK and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website.
**Social:**
LinkedIn dark posts
## Search
To facilitate a strong field of candidates, the recruitment agency Challis and Company (Challis) was engaged by the Department to conduct a search to supplement the list of candidates that responded to the advertisement. Overall there were 47 applications for the position. 47C
FOI 26-174- Document 1 Attachment A
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
Applications were received from:
s47C, s47E(c)
## Assessment
In addition to the statutory criteria set out in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Non-executive Director – Selection Criteria) Determination 2024 (the Determination 2024), the Panel assessed the applicants keeping in mind the Government's gender diversity target and geographic representation. On this occasion, and not counting the Managing Director and staff-elected Director who are not included in these calculations, the ABC Board has 33% male (2 members) and 66% female (4 members). On geographic make-up, the Board has 3 members from New South Wales and one each from Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. s47C, s47E(c)
s47C
## Recommended Candidates
Section 24B(1)(d) of the ABC Act requires the Panel to put forward a list of at least 3 candidates for possible appointment. s47C, s47E(c)
s47C
The recommended candidates who differ in their areas of experience and relative strengths are listed below in alphabetical order.
s47E(c), s47F
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
FOI 26-174- Document 1
Attachment A
s47E(c), s47F
Released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts