Philanthropist to Head NGV Council of Trustees
10 October 2012 at 3:42 pm
Philanthropist and long-standing supporter of the arts, Bruce Parncutt has been named the new President of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).
Announcing the appointment, Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu said Bruce Parncutt, who has served as the Chairman of the NGV Foundation and a member of the Council of Trustees since 2005, would bring extensive executive management and fundraising experience to his new role at Australia’s most popular gallery.
“Bruce’s outstanding career history, coupled with his passion for the Gallery and his dedication and commitment to the arts, make him an ideal candidate as the next President of the NGV,” Baillieu said.
“He is an active campaigner for the arts and as Chairman of the NGV Foundation, Bruce led the charge with the Masterpieces for Melbourne fundraising campaign, which between 2006 and 2011 raised $125 million for the gallery – a remarkable effort, particularly in the recent financial climate,” Baillieu said.
Parncutt, who is currently Chairman of corporate advisory firm Lion Capital, holds a Bachelor of Science from Melbourne University and a Master of Business Administration from Monash University. He was a member of the Australian Stock Exchange for 19 years, from 1981 to 2000, including seven years as Chief Executive of listed securities firm McIntosh Securities and three years as Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch.
With a career spanning almost 40 years in investment management, investment banking and stockbroking, Parncutt has also served on many education, arts and philanthropic boards and currently sits on the Campaign Board of the University of Melbourne, the Board of Directors at The Australian Ballet and is a Trustee of the Parncutt Family Foundation, which supports a range of projects spanning community issues and environmental, cultural, arts and education causes.
Parncutt said he was excited at the prospect of working with the Trustees to support the new NGV Director Tony Ellwood and his team in shaping the next stage of the NGV legacy.
“The NGV is a place everyone enjoys, to which many contribute and of which all Victorians are proud. It is a great honour to be asked to serve, and to be a part of a team of dedicated and passionate people who are committed to preserving and enhancing the NGV’s central role in the cultural life of our community,” Parncutt said.
Parncutt takes up the role on 11 October 2012 from Allan Myers AO QC who has served as President since 2004.
“On behalf of all Victorians and all gallery lovers, I offer my thanks and congratulations to Allan, who has overseen a period of the greatest growth in the gallery’s 151 year history. I know Bruce will continue Allan’s legacy as the NGV moves into the next 150 years,” the Premier said.
