Dear Ray, Thank you for your patience and support during the establishment of Sturt Gallery and Studios Limited (Sturt). We are delighted to announce the inaugural Sturt Board, selected for their breadth of experience across the arts and crafts, a deep knowledge of Sturt, connection to the local and international community, business expertise, fundraising capability and sound governance practice. The Inaugural Sturt Gallery and Studios Board The Sturt Gallery and Studios Board comprises eight positions, five of which have now been appointed. Directors serve for a three (3) year term. Further appointments may be made in due course to complement the current directors and ensure the full diversity of skills and perspectives required for Sturt’s next chapter. We are pleased to confirm the following appointments: Tom Brigstocke is CEO of Principals, Australia’s leading brand strategy and design company, working with clients from top-20 ASX companies through to small enterprises across many sectors, including government and tertiary education. Tom has extensive governance experience, having served on a range of boards, including as a Governor of Winifred West Schools. Howard Tanner AM LFRAIA has enjoyed a diverse career as an architect, an author and an exhibition curator. He has written extensively on architecture and landscape design and prepared major exhibitions. He has held the position of National President, Australian Institute of Architects, Chair of the Heritage Council of NSW, and was appointed Professorial Fellow in Architecture, University of Canberra. Howard brings to the Sturt board extensive experience in governance and promotion of public cultural institutions, including the NSW Historic Houses Trust, the National Art School, and the State Library of NSW. Mary Taguchi (Fellowship, 1961) has a long-standing association with Sturt’s history and creative philosophy, as a teacher, textile artist and scholar. Following her tenure at a bi-lingual school in Tokyo, where she forged deep connections with ceramicists and textile artists, she established Japanese language programs at Frensham and Gib Gate, fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Mary is a published author on arts-based language learning, and is an exhibiting textile artist with works shown across Australia. Formerly a Sturt tutor, she currently shares her expertise in paper and cloth workshops at her Braidwood studio. Michael Harris brings to the board a unique blend of craftsmanship and corporate expertise, combining his Sturt training with over two decades of high-level financial management experience in multinational advertising and communication firms in the UK and Asia. A highly regarded graduate of the Sturt School for Wood, Michael was appointed Wood School Coordinator immediately following his studies. He has been a dedicated member of the Sturt community, including many years of service as a member of the Friends of Sturt committee. Madeline Baker is a distinguished legal professional, solicitor of the NSW Supreme Court, and judicial member of the Civil and Administrative Tribunals in NSW and QLD. Her career also spans significant advisory and teaching roles in government and academia, including senior policy adviser to state ministers, consultant to state and federal government, and as Lecturer in the Law faculty at Southern Cross University.
Founding Membership Last year we were overwhelmed by the number of people who applied to become members of the new Sturt. The strength of the response reinforced the significance of Sturt to the Australian arts community. To ensure the success of the new entity, the constitutional membership structure has been refined. As a result, a core group, known as the Founding Members, has been established. These individuals are deeply connected to Sturt and will act as custodians of its future, providing stewardship and, where needed, guidance and support to the Board. There can be a total of 20 Founding Members, and each member is able to hold this constitutional role for a term of five years. We are pleased to announce the first ten Founding Members. Annabel Beith Tony Carroll Elinor Crossing Geoff Daniels Gina Fairley Helen Gauchat Elisabeth Nagel Megan Patey Ingrid Wanner Annabel White
Friends of Sturt We acknowledge and greatly value the time and dedication shown by Friends of Sturt over many years. The Sturt Gallery and Studios Constitution now allows the Board to establish Friends of Sturt as a formal supporter community. The precise form, benefits and opportunities for participation within the Friends of Sturt program will be determined by the Board over time as the organisation develops. With the appointment of the inaugural Board, the interim Sturt Board has now stepped down. We thank the directors for their service during this important transitional period. It is a privilege to serve the Sturt community, and a responsibility we take very seriously. We ask for your patience as we take the time to understand Sturt and identify priorities and opportunities, and we look forward to connecting with you over the coming months. Kind regards, Sturt Gallery and Studios Board | 
