All members of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Council, except the Director, are non-Executive members.

Chairman Peter Dexter AM FAICD
Term: 19 July 2010–16 August 2019
Mr Dexter has accepted a number of appointments since retiring as Regional Director of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, Oceania, in September 2005. Current appointments are non-executive Director of Qube Holdings Limited and Wilh Wilhelmsen Investments Pty Limited. Mr Dexter is also a director on the Board of the Australian National Maritime Museum Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and was awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by the King of Norway for his contribution to Norwegian–Australian business. He was named a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the development of the shipping and maritime industries through leadership roles, to international relations and to the community in 2005.

David Blackley
Term: 13 April 2017–12 April 2020
Mr Blackley was inducted into the Australian Advertising Hall of Fame in 2015 for his achievements in the advertising industry over more than 30 years. He is a former Chairman of Clemenger BBDO and a member of the Worldwide Creative Board of BBDO New York, representing BBDO’s interests across Australia, New Zealand and Asia on that board. Under his leadership, Clemenger BBDO won the Australian Agency of the Year award eight times. Mr Blackley has been involved with Brainwave Australia, a charity supporting children with neurological conditions, since its inception in 1994, and joined its board in 2008.

Hon Ian Campbell
Term: 11 December 2014–10 December 2020
Mr Campbell is the ASG Group Deputy Chairman and Group Executive at Brookfield Asset Management. Mr Campbell has extensive offshore and inshore yacht racing experience, including the Sydney to Hobart race, and has competed successfully in state, national and world championships. He recently completed a circumnavigation of Australia and crossed the Tasman Sea from Sydney to Auckland in his own boat. In 2016 he sailed through the Beagle Channel and around Cape Horn. As Minister for Heritage he initiated Duyfken’s voyage around Australia to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the 1606 mapping of Cape York and advocated for the purchase of the Endeavour replica. He was also the Chairman of ISAF World Sailing Championships held in Fremantle in 2011. Mr Campbell is Chairman of the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Harry Butler Institute at Murdoch University. Mr Campbell was in the Howard Government Ministry from 1996–2007, in the Leadership Group from 1996–2004 and the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet from 2004–2007.

Hon Justice Sarah C Derrington
Terms: 11 February 2016–10 February 2019,7 March 2019–6 March 2022
Justice Derrington is currently President of the Australian Law Reform Commission and a Judge of the Federal Court. She was previously Head of School and Dean of Law at TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland, and has also had a distinguished academic career overseas. She is a PhD in the field of marine insurance law, has an extensive history of involvement in maritime organisations and has served on a range of boards and councils, including the Australian Maritime College and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Maria Teresia Fors
Term: 5 May 2016–4 May 2019
Ms Fors has extensive experience in sales, marketing, governance and tourism and most recently held the position of Vice President – Marketing and Communications for Volvo Group Australia. She has an MBA from the University of Technology Sydney, a Diploma in Business Communication from IHM Business School and a Diploma in Language Studies from Stockholm University, Sweden. She is also a 2015 graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has been Director of the Swedish Australia Chamber of Commerce since 2011.

John Longley AM
Term: 5 May 2019–4 May 2022
John Longley has had a long career in sailing, initially in dinghies and then ocean racing. This led to his involvement in the America’s Cup, which saw him competing in five matches from 1974 to 1987, including being project manager and crewman on Australia II during its successful challenge for the cup in 1983. He was subsequently charged with managing the build of the museum-standard replica of Captain James Cook’s famous ship of discovery, HMB Endeavour. After the six-year build, he continued to manage the project as the ship circumnavigated the globe visiting 149 ports.

Mr Longley was a Board Member and later Chair of the Duyfken 1606 Foundation and managed Duyfken’s 2006 tour of Australia, which marked the 400th anniversary of the first recorded landing of a European ship in Australia. More recently he was the Event Director of Perth 2011, World Sailing’s Olympic Classes World Championship with 1200 competitors from 80 nations. Mr Longley was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), was the Western Australian Citizen of the Year (Sport) in 2011 and has been inducted into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame.

Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead AM RAN
Term: from 13 March 2018
RADM Mead joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1984 and proceeded to sea in 1986. He specialised in mine clearance diving and explosive ordnance disposal and after serving as Executive Officer of Clearance Diving Team One he undertook Principal Warfare Officer (ASW) training. A succession of warfare postings then followed, including Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer in HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Arunta, Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Executive Officer of HMAS Arunta. In 2005, he commanded HMAS Parramatta and saw active service in the North Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst; for this his ship was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation and he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. He undertook studies at the Indian National Defence College in 2007, after which he assumed the appointment as Australia’s Defence Adviser to India. Promoted to Commodore in July 2011, he deployed to the Middle East where he commanded Combined Task Force 150, responsible for maritime counter terrorism.

Upon his return to Fleet Headquarters in 2012, he served as Commander Surface Force. In January 2015, he was promoted to Rear Admiral and assumed the position as Head Navy Capability. Rear Admiral Mead became Commander Australian Fleet on 19 January 2018. Rear Admiral Mead holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations, a Master’s Degree in Management and a PhD in International Relations. He has published a book on Indian national security.

John Mullen
Term: 5 May 2016–4 May 2022
Mr Mullen is the Chairman of Telstra and Toll Holdings Ltd. Until recently, Mr Mullen was the Chief Executive Officer of Asciano Ltd. He has worked in the logistics industry for more than two decades, including roles as global CEO of DHL Express and global CEO of TNT Express Worldwide. He is currently on the board of Kimberley Foundation Australia and is co-founder of the Silentworld Foundation, which supports maritime archaeology in Australia. Mr Mullen is passionate about maritime exploration and Indigenous rock art in the Kimberley, WA. He spends his spare time diving for colonial shipwrecks and maintains a private museum dedicated to historical material from early maritime voyages to the Pacific. Mr Mullen brings his expertise in philanthropy, maritime archaeology, leadership and management to the Council. Mr Mullen has been appointed Chairman of Council from 17 August 2019 to 16 August 2022.

Alison Page
Term: 13 April 2017–12 April 2020
Ms Page is currently Chair of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and Indigenous research company Ninti Pty Ltd. She has also served as a member of numerous boards, including the Expert Panel for Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Peoples, the Museums and Galleries NSW Board and the Australian Museum Trust. Ms Page has substantial experience in design, communications and marketing and was a panellist for eight years on the ABC television program The New Inventors, which showcased Australian innovation. She is currently a Professor of Practice in the school of design at the University of Technology Sydney.

Kevin Sumption
Term: 15 November 2012–14 February 2022
Mr Sumption was appointed Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum in February 2012 after holding high profile leadership roles in cultural institutions in Australia and abroad. He was one of the founding curators of the ANMM in 1991.

His international career has focused on developing the digital landscape of cultural institutions for more than 20 years, covering museum management, exhibition curation, program development, maritime heritage and digital cultural content.

Mr Sumption also lectured at the University of Technology, Sydney for over 18 years in design theory and history, covering digital media in cultural institutions, digital curatorship, interactive media, constructivist design history and research methodology. He is an internationally renowned speaker.

Mr Sumption was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding service as Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was reappointed as Director for five years from 15 February 2017.

Arlene Tansey
Term: 2 August 2018–1 August 2021
Arlene Tansey was appointed the Chair of the Audit committee in December 2018, following the conclusion of Mr Paul Binsted’s term. She is a Director of Aristocrat Leisure Limited, Adelaide Brighton Limited, Primary Health Care, Infrastructure NSW and Lend Lease Investment Management.

Before becoming a non-executive Director, Arlene Tansey worked in commercial and investment banking in Australia and in investment banking and law in the United States. She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law Centre and an MBA from New York University. Ms Tansey is a member of Chief Executive Women and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Originally from New York, Ms Tansey has lived and worked in the United States, South America and Europe. She has lived in Australia for the past 25 years and is an Australian citizen.

Dr Ian J Watt AC
Term: 21 March 2019–20 March 2022
Dr Ian J Watt has had a long career as one of Australia’s most distinguished public servants, with nearly 20 years at the highest levels of the public service. His most recent and most senior appointment was as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and head of the Australian Public Service, a position he held from 2011 until the end of 2014. Prior to that, he was Secretary of the Departments of Defence; Finance; and Communications, Information Technology and the Arts between 2001 and 2011. Before that, he was Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Dr Watt is Chair of the International Centre for Democratic Partnerships, Chair of the ADC Advisory Council, and Chair of the Australian Governance and Ethical Index Fund. He is also the recently retired Chair of BAE Systems Australia. He serves on the Boards of Citibank Pty Ltd, Smartgroup Corporation, the Grattan Institute (University of Melbourne), O’Connell Street Associates Pty Ltd and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Dr Watt is also a Member of the Male Champions of Change, a Member of the Melbourne School of Government Advisory Board at the University of Melbourne, a Fellow of ANZSOG, and Senior Adviser to Flagstaff Partners. He also has an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Wollongong.

Hon Margaret White AO
Terms: 4 August 2014–3 August 2017, 10 August 2017–9 August 2020

Ms White is the current Chair of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission. Ms White was the Commissioner for the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory, which concluded in December 2017. She has a distinguished legal career over more than three decades. She was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland for almost 20 years before her appointment to the Court of Appeal in Queensland in 2010. Ms White has also been a Deputy President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Tribunal and was Commissioner for the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry.

Ms White has been the Chair of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, Deputy Chancellor and Member of the Senate of the University of Queensland and Chair of the Supreme Court of Queensland Library Committee. Ms White was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013 for distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law particularly in Queensland, as a leading contributor to legal education and reform, and to professional development and training.

Ms White is a retired officer of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve and has a deep and long-standing interest in maritime law and history.