Arts Mid North Coast appoints new board

This was the last meeting for long standing member Leigh Vaughan OAM who has served on the board since 2002 and as Chair since 2015.

Leigh is highly regarded in the arts and broader community and was a recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for service to the arts and music education, local government and community.

Cr Rob Turner from Port Macquarie Hastings Council is the newly elected Chair, having been Deputy Chair for the last year and member of the Board since 2016.

Standing member Cr Susan Jenvey from Nambucca Shire Council was elected to Deputy Chairperson and Secretary.

Two new board members, Donna Ballard from Wingham and Debbie Sommers from Port Macquarie were also formally approved at the meeting.

Both have strong strategic planning and financial backgrounds and considerable experience in their fields.

Donna is one of the founders and key organisers of the Wingham Akoostik Music Festival which has grown from a small community event to one of the major and most successful festivals of the Mid North Coast.

In the last year Live Music has become an important focus of State government.

Debbie is the curator of the multi-award winning Port Macquarie Museum and Chair of the Mid North Coast Chapter of Museums Australia and Board member at the State and National level.

Heritage has recently been added to the responsibilities of Create NSW recognising its important role in our culture.

Maya Spannari from Kempsey Shire Council was also inducted representing Cr Mark Baxter and Olivia Parker joined the organisation as Programs and Projects Manager.

Cr John Arkan (Coffs Harbour City Council), Cr Mark Baxter (Kempsey Shire Council), Cr Steve Klipin (Bellingen Shire Council), Cr Claire Pontin (Mid Coast Council), Lorrae O'Brien (North Coast TAFE), Stephanie Sims and Shelley O'Keefe were reelected as committee members.

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