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Ita Buttrose confirmed as new ABC Chair

Media doyenne says she is honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the ABC.

Media doyenne Ita Buttrose AO OBE has been confirmed as ABC’s new Chair, replacing Justin Milne who exited in September.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the Government will recommend Ms Buttrose’s appointment to the Governor-General.

Ms Buttrose said: “The ABC is one of the most important cultural and information organisations in Australia and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead it.”

“I join with all ABC employees in welcoming Ita Buttrose to this important role,” Acting ABC Managing Director David Anderson said. “Ms Buttrose is an eminent Australian with vast experience as an editor and media executive. Her leadership of the ABC, a highly valued and trusted cultural institution, is welcomed.

“In an era of globalised commercial media, a strong independent ABC is vital. We remain committed to outstanding news and current affairs, hosting conversations that inform the public, and delivering compelling content that is distinctive, high-quality and Australian.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Kirstin Ferguson for her strong commitment to an independent ABC and the ongoing leadership and governance she has provided during her tenure as Acting Chair.”

Dr Kirstin Ferguson, who will continue as Deputy Chair, said, “Ita Buttrose is one of the greats of Australian media – and an iconic, widely admired Australian.

“She will bring valuable experience to the ABC Board at a time when we will need to make significant strategic and leadership decisions, including the appointment of the new Managing Director, in coming months.

“I am honoured to work with her in my capacity as Deputy Chair and I know the entire Board looks forward to working with Ms Buttrose on critical issues facing the ABC.”

Her appointment comes amid some questions about the recruitment process, given her name was not recommended by recruitment firm Korn Ferry.

Buttrose, 77, carries extensive firsthand media experience including at Cleo, the Australian Women’s Weekly, The Daily Telegraph and was the first female director of News Limited Television experience includes Ovation channel, Beauty & the Beast & Studio 10.

She has an Order of Australia, an OBE and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the NSW Kennedy Awards for Excellence in Journalism in 2017.

Buttrose was also the subject of the popular Paper Giants miniseries on ABC in 2011.

15 Responses

  1. So Ita thinks the ABC isn’t politically biased because opinion polling has given the national broadcaster an 80% approval rating. How would most of those 80% know if it was biased or not given that few people actually watch its main political talk shows like The Drum and Insiders? Not a good start Ita.

  2. Ita has strong media, management, corporate board and public speaking skills. She not overtly tied to the Liberal Party and its agenda, like Milne and Newman were. She should be able get the board functioning properly.

  3. Fantastic news. The LNP wasted $150,000 of taxpayer money on a prestigious head hunting agency and then they rejected their independent recommendations and went with one of their millionaire members. If ScoMo was desperate to have a female chair for the ABC, why didn’t they ask the head hunting agency to just short list female candidates? The 4 men who were interviewed were just wasting their time. This was a colossal waste of taxpayer money.

    1. Because it is not 1976. There is this thing called the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 and without a waiver from the Anti-Discrimination Board, which requires a strong reason, it is illegal to make sex a job criteria. Where as if the PM makes a Captain’s Choice, who just happens to be women, so he attacked as misogynist by the media, Shorten and Julia Banks, that is fine.

  4. I’d also like to congratulate Ita on her new appointment to the ABC – this is very good news for her and, I think, the ABC and the ABC’s audience. I am now much more optimistic about the ABC’s future.

    Who knows, one of ABC-TV’s digital channels might become ‘ABC Cleo’, or perhaps even ‘ABCleo’.

    1. Laurie – I read that there were problems on set between Ita and Denise but didn’t know what exactly happened. I understand Denise threw food at Ita. Will anyone at the ABC throw food at Ita?

    2. Perhaps if not for Ms. Drysdale’s sprout-slinging, Ms. Buttrose would never have quit Studio 10 to become the chair of the ABC. Look where Ms. Drysdale’s miracle sprouts have gotten her!

      And here I’ve been eating them in vain all my life.

    1. Guess who hired this head hunting agency? Yep the government.

      And Korn Ferry have pocketed a cool $150K of taxpayer money and all their work was for nothing.

      Well done to the government for wasting taxpayer money (again) and for giving one of their own a lucrative multi-milllion dollar job.

      Rupert will be very proud.

  5. It’s good to see the longevity and experience of Ita Buttrose in the media industry being recognised by the appointment of her as chairperson for the ABC. It would be a transition from commercial-based media, such as magazines, newspapers and daytime commercial television to a role in a government-based public media institution.

    1. The reporting around Ita’s appointment keeps talking about “the media industry” as though that’s a meaningful term. In reality, Ita’s editorial and management experience in the media was entirely in newspapers and magazines – and that more than 20 years ago. It’s actually no kind of preparation for overseeing a broadcasting network, something most of the journalists reporting on this should know and should be pointing out.

  6. Oh, hooray! Finally, some good news! I’m so pleased for Ita – who is exactly the sort of no-nonsense, strong, and vastly experienced woman needed in these times – and the ABC and me!

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