News.Life

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 The Art Gallery of NSW’s Maud Page has been named the institution’s first female leader in its 154-year history.
 
 
 The landmark ministerial appointment follows an international search for a successor to outgoing director Dr Michael Brand, whose departure has been unexpectedly brought forward from June to next Friday.
 
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 Brand did not acknowledge his deputy’s historic appointment Friday in an Instagram post which flagged his exit from the gallery at short notice.
 
 
 “I’ve just been informed that the NSW government is about to announce the Art Gallery’s new director who will start next week so that’s a wrap for me today,” he said.
 
 
 “It’s been a huge honour and privilege to lead our public art museum through such an extraordinary transformation.
 
 
 “I will always deeply cherish and appreciate the support I have received in Sydney, especially from all of my colleagues at the Art Gallery.”
 
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 With Page’s appointment, all NSW’s major galleries and museums are now headed by women.
 
 
 Page said it was a “momentous” day for her, and her appointment was difficult to believe given deputies of such esteemed institutions were usually overlooked for directors’ roles. This is believed to be the first-ever director’s appointment made from within the gallery.
 
 
 “My daughter is about to turn 20, and it’s such a fabulous demonstration to her that if you work hard and work with people, dreams can happen,” she said.
 
 
 Page was the standout and only internal candidate on the shortlist, which included applicants from North America, Art Gallery of NSW Trust president Michael Rose said.
 
 
 Rose said the selection panel had been swayed by Page’s genuine engagement with the contemporary arts scene, her curatorial strength and her close relationship with other cultural institutions with which she wants to more closely collaborate.
 
 
 “I think of Maud as an international candidate who is well-connected in the international arts world, and speaks three languages,” Rose said.
 
 
 “One of my things is to recognise what a smart and creative place Sydney is, and it’s such a pleasure to find the best candidate here in this city and in the institution.”
 
 
 Page came from Queensland Art Gallery to Sydney in 2017 and has since cultivated deep connections with Pacific communities.
 
 
 The French-born Page impressed French President Emmanuel Macron on his first official diplomatic visit to Australia in 2018 when he came to see the world-famous
 
 Lady and the Unicorn
 
 tapestries that Page had secured on loan from the Musee de Cluny in Paris.
 
 
 She has since been a vocal champion inside the gallery of First Nations art and wants to further extend the gallery’s outreach to western Sydney and regional NSW.
 
 
 Responsible, with Brand, for international blockbusters such as
 
 Magritte
 
 , she has also engaged children in art, with the opening of the Children’s Art Library and the popular Hive Festival for children.
 
 
 Under her leadership, it’s expected the gallery will lean more into Indigenous art, for which there is a growing international audience.
 
 
 Page will commence in the prestigious role – that comes with a $509,161 remuneration package according to the gallery’s latest annual report – next Friday, March 28.
 
 
 Brand departs after 13 years, during which the gallery’s new $344 million Sydney Modern building was opened in December 2023. The doubling of the gallery’s footprint caused the director to cut jobs while successfully arguing for millions more in government funding to cover part of an operational shortfall.
 
 
 Arts Minister John Graham wished Brand the best for the next chapter of his career.
 
 
 “I congratulate Maud Page on her appointment to the role,” he said. “She has already been a driving force to help grow its annual visitation to 2 million per year, ranking it 28 out of 100 in the world’s most visited art museums in the annual international
 
 Art Newspaper
 
 survey.”
 
 
 Following Brand’s sudden exit, the gallery stated that an elongated transition period was no longer needed since Page was an internal hire. Previously, the gallery’s director had provided six months’ notice to ensure ample time for locating a replacement.
 
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Art Gallery of NSW names first female director in 154 years

Unknown art, artwork, leadership, news, women leaders

The Art Gallery of NSW’s Maud Page has been named the institution’s first female leader in its 154-year history. The landmark ministerial appointment follows an international search for a s…

Kirsty Coventry, a former elite swimmer, stands as the sole female candidate vying to take over from IOC President Thomas Bach.
 

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 Kirsty Coventry will create a historic moment in sports if she gets elected.
 leader of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
 At its General Assembly on Thursday (March 20, 2025), she will become the first female leader and the first individual from Africa to helm the IOC.


 She would also become the youngest person to hold this position since Pierre de Coubertin, who is known as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. De Coubertin established the IOC in 1894 and became its president two years thereafter at just 33 years old.


 Coventry, a 41-year-old ex-world-class swimmer hailing from Zimbabwe, has consistently exhibited a formidable resolve and clear foresight.


 "When I was nine years old, I shared with my father that I dreamed of participating in the Olympics and winning a gold medal. He acknowledged that the path would be challenging, emphasizing how tough it is merely to secure a spot on the Olympic team, not to mention winning a medal. Nonetheless, he expressed his belief in me," she posted on Facebook some time back.


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 The most accomplished female Olympic athlete from Africa
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 When she was 20 years old, she fulfilled her aspirations. During the 2004 games held in Athens, Coventry secured the top prize for the women’s 200-meter backstroke event. She repeated this feat eight years after her initial victory during the 2008 competition in Beijing. Along with these two golden achievements, she garnered an additional four silver medals and one bronze medal at various Olympic events. These accomplishments make Coventry stand out as the leading female athlete from Africa across the history of the Olympics. Only long-distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia surpasses her record among Africans; Dibaba claimed three golds along with two bronzes throughout her career.


 "I have participated in five Olympic Games, earned seven individual Olympic medals, set numerous world records, and enjoyed one of the most successful World Championship careers ever," Coventry stated on her LinkedIn profile.

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 Uniting a troubled nation
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 Nevertheless, all these factors pale in comparison to the impact this achievement has had and could continue having on others. It brought unity to my nation, which was being hamstrung by divisions stemming from economic and political upheaval, and it instilled hope in individuals who believed their situations barred them from pursuing their aspirations.


 While still an active swimmer, Coventry was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission in 2013. She represented the interests of athletes for eight years, including three years as chairperson. More recently, she has been a member of the IOC Executive Board.


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 An African Olympic host?
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 The growing prominence of Zimbabwe has sparked optimism across Africa that the continent might host the Summer Olympics for the first time ever.


 Despite expressions of interest from South Africa and Egypt, Coventry has downplayed these expectations.


 "There is an interest, and now we must make sure to work closely with all these countries that are eager, ensuring they completely grasp the significance of the Olympic Games," she stated.


 Coventry stated during a Q&A event hosted by the Association of International Sports Journalists (AIPS) that African nations should “take a strategic approach from the perspective of the African Union to see how we can enhance our infrastructure via the All Africa Games, which could subsequently support a bid for hosting the Olympics.”


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 Coventry understands firsthand the challenges these political processes entail. Having served as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sports since 2018, she mentions that her experiences have made her “certainly more resilient” compared to her days as an athlete.

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 Diplomatic on controversial issues
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 When questioned about her stance on allowing trans women to participate in female-only competitions, she avoided giving a direct answer.


 Absolutely, finding a solution is essential," Coventry stated. "In my view, we at the IOC should assume somewhat more of a leadership position.


 The Zimbabwean also steered clear of taking an extreme stance on another sensitive issue leading up to the IOC election: the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympics.


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 “I believe that above all else, our primary responsibility as the IOC is to guarantee that every athlete has the opportunity to compete in the Games,” she stated. “This will require varied approaches for numerous athletes; however, ultimately, I feel that we must develop an inclusive method to address the challenges faced by those competing from conflicted regions.”


 Given her experience representing Zimbabwe during a period marked by national political upheaval and global economic restrictions, she shared her thoughts.


 It would have been simple for the global community to exclude us from participating. When I reflect on this, I wonder how different my life might be now. I feel thankful that I wasn’t burdened with responsibility for the actions of our leaders and administrations.

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 There is much work to be done in the fight for equality.
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 Kirsty Coventry isn't just a sports administrator and politician; she is also a parent. She welcomed her second daughter into the world fewer than six months ago. Her first child is six years of age.


 "When she reached her first birthday, she had already visited 10 distinct countries across the globe," Coventry mentioned.


 I benefit from a remarkable circle of support provided by my spouse and relatives. This has become our standard way of living. I believe this demonstrates effectively that women possess equal capabilities to men, despite often being tasked with roles such as full-time mothers, wives, daughters, and more.


 There is still considerable work ahead, and I am enthusiastic about spearheading this initiative for gender equality," Coventry stated. "Women are prepared to take charge. I see this as a chance to break down barriers so that by the time my two daughters mature, they won’t face these limitations.


 
 The article was initially published in German.
 


 
 Edited by: Jonathan Harding
 


 Author: Stefan Nestler

IOC: Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry Seeks Historic Return

Unknown athletes, sports, women, women leaders, women's sports

Kirsty Coventry, a former elite swimmer, stands as the sole female candidate vying to take over from IOC President Thomas Bach. Kirsty Coventry will create a historic moment in sports if she g…