The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, has appointed Mr Richard Eccles as Chair of the Nomination Panel for appointments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Boards.
Appointed in accordance with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, Mr Eccles term as Chair will run from 24 August 2025 to 23 August 2028. His appointment follows the completion of Ms Helen Williams AC’s term as Chair.
Mr Eccles is a company director and consultant. He is on a number of boards, including the Copyright Agency Ltd, the Public Interest Journalism Initiative and Canberra Health Services Strategic Advisory Committee. Formerly an Australian public servant, Mr Eccles held Deputy Secretary positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Communications and the Arts.
Dr Kennedy has also reappointed Professor Derek Wilding as a member of the panel until 23 August 2028. Professor Wilding has served on the panel since 24 August 2022.
The Nomination Panel was established to:
- Conduct a selection process for non-executive Members and Chairpersons to the ABC and SBS Boards, based on the principle of merit and having regard to the selection criteria provided by the Minister for Communications.
- Provide the Minister (and in the case of the ABC Chairperson, the Prime Minister) with a written shortlist of recommended candidates for each vacancy, with a comparative assessment of the recommended candidates.
The panel carries out its functions assisted by a secretariat within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
Dr Kennedy thanks Ms Williams for her contributions as a member of the panel since 30 June 2017 and for her leadership as Chair since 24 August 2022. Dr Kennedy also thanks Ms Catherine Liddle for her contributions as a member of the panel since 24 August 2022.