Australia-Korea Foundation Board appointments

Today I announce the appointment of four new members to the board of the Australia‑Korea Foundation.

Emeritus Professor Susan Street AO will bring arts expertise to the Foundation. She is Executive Director, QUT Precincts, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.

Georgina Carnegie and Ian Williams have extensive business experience in Korea. Mr Williams is Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills in Brisbane. Ms Carnegie is Managing Director of Carnegie Enterprises and an adviser at The Sentient Group based in Sydney. They are both on the board of the Australia-Korea Business Council.

Emeritus Professor James Cotton is a world-renowned expert on the Korean Peninsula and on Australian foreign and security policy, currently based at the University of New South Wales and Australian Defence Force Academy.

These prominent Australians will join current board members Peter Coleman, Chair, and Jacquie Riddell. The Foundation encourages Australian students, businesses, services professionals and academics to explore opportunities in Korea through economic, science, sports and cultural partnerships.

Australia and Korea have strong economies, vibrant cultures and an enduring commitment to supporting peace and prosperity in our region. Korea is our third-largest export market, with two-way trade in services and goods reaching $34.5 billion in 2013-14. The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on 12 December 2014, will further strengthen our ties.

I thank out-going members James Casey, Dr Bronwen Dalton and Professor Michael Manton for their outstanding service on the Australia-Korea Foundation Board.