Marina Go announced as chair of the Walkley Foundation
Long-standing member of the Walkley Judging Board, Marina Go, has been appointed as the Foundation’s new chair.
Go has extensive experience in the media industry, including as a former CEO of Private Media and publisher of Crikey. She was also a founder of the female leadership website Women’s Agenda.
Marina Go is the new chair of the Walkley Foundation
Walkleys chief executive Louisa Graham welcomed Go to the position and thanked her for her efforts to date.
“Marina has already made a huge contribution to the leadership of the Walkley Foundation with years of voluntary service on the Walkley Judging Board (2014-16) and as a Director since October 2017, along with Michael Janda, Karen Percy, Marcus Strom and Lenore Taylor,” Ms Graham said.
“We’re grateful for all that Marina brings to the Foundation and excited about this next chapter in our leadership.”
The directors were unanimous in their appointment of Go, with outgoing chair Kerry O’Brien championing her skills.
“The industry has never faced a greater challenge in terms of both digital disruption and government assaults on press freedom. Marina has the skills, the standing and the passion for our craft to lead the Foundation through such troubled times,” said O’Brien.
Go said the Walkley Foundation continues to be an important beacon of leadership for journalism and media in Australia.
“The media has changed dramatically in recent years, and the Walkley Foundation’s role in celebrating and supporting the best of Australian journalism has never been more important. We remain focused on elevating the value of quality journalism and highlighting the impact that it has on our society and our democracy,” Go said.
“In 2020 we’ll be investing from the Walkley Public Fund directly into Australian journalism, and expanding the opportunities we offer to help the next generation of journalists from diverse backgrounds break into the industry, through scholarships, fellowships and mentoring.
“I thank Kerry O’Brien for his leadership throughout 2019 and for recommending me as his successor. I look forward to continuing to work with Louisa Graham and the board on fulfilling our mission,” Go said.
Graham also paid her thanks to O’Brien for his time as chair.
“We’re very grateful for all the work Kerry did serving as our Chair last year. It is a testament to the Foundation that we can attract journalists of the highest calibre such as Kerry, a Gold Walkley- winner, to donate their time to support the important work we do,” said Graham.
The Walkley Foundation manages Australia’s pre-eminent journalism awards and has programs that celebrate and support journalism, fostering the next generation, providing grants and establishing the benchmark for excellence and best practice in the industry.
Go is also chair of Suncorp Super Netball and Ovarian Cancer Australia, a non-executive director of Energy Australia, Autosports Group, 7-Eleven, and Pro-Pac, chair of the Advisory Board for the Centre For Media Transition at the University of Technology Sydney, a director of PwC’s Diversity Advisory Board and author of the business book for women, Break Through: 20 Success Strategies for Female Leaders.
As times passes the Walkley Foundation looks more like a gravy train for hangers on than the original organisation promoting good reporting. I wonder what happened to it.
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