The Chair of the ABC, Ms Ita Buttrose AC OBE has advised the Federal Government that she is not seeking reappointment following the completion of her current term in March 2024.
“I have enjoyed my time at the ABC immensely and am honoured to have chaired such a great Australian institution for five years,” said Ms Buttrose. “There have been many memories, some challenges, and I have relished the opportunity to play a role in the ABC’s history. Our 90th celebrations last year remain a high point for me but there are many moments I will always remember. Among those are the many interactions with both ABC staff and our audiences across the country.
“There is still work to be done between now and March next year. Until then, it is business as usual.”
Acknowledging Ms Buttrose’s leadership of the national broadcaster since her appointment in March 2019, Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, said: “Ms Buttrose was the right Chair for the right time. Ms Buttrose is a giant of Australia’s media industry, and the Government thanks her for her exemplary service as Chair of the ABC.
“Ms Buttrose is a formidable corporate leader who has served with distinction, speaking truth to power and upholding governance standards to protect independent public broadcasting.
“She has much to do in the remainder of her term and will leave the ABC stronger than when she was entrusted with the role in 2019.
“She navigated the public broadcaster through a challenging period that included strident political criticism, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing transformation of the ABC so it can remain an essential part of Australian life in the digital age.
“The Government respects Ms Buttrose’s decision and wishes her well for the remainder of her term and her future endeavours”.
Under Ms Buttrose’s stewardship, the ABC has developed a new Five-Year Plan, championed greater inclusivity through efforts to introduce audio-description for blind and vision-impaired Australians, and furthered her career-long focus on boosting women’s representation in the media.
The Federal Government says it will begin a selection process to appoint the next Chair in due course. The selection process will be conducted by the independent Nomination Panel for ABC and SBS appointments, supported by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, and an external executive search agency.