Marina Go announced as new Walkley Foundation Chair
The Walkley Foundation has announced Marina Go as the Foundation’s new Chair.
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.
The directors were unanimous in appointing Ms Go after a selection process, and Walkleys chief executive Louisa Graham welcomed Ms Go to the position.
“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.”
Ms 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,” Ms 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,” Ms Go said.
Outgoing chair, Kerry O’Brien said, “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.”
Ms Graham also paid tribute to outgoing chair Kerry O’Brien.
“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.”
In addition to her role as Chair of the Walkley Foundation, Marina Go has extensive experience as a journalist, editor, business founder and non-executive director. She is 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. Boss magazine named her as one of 20 True Leaders of 2016. Marina has over 30 years of leadership experience in the media industry, having started her career as a journalist. She is a former CEO of Private Media and Publisher of Crikey and was a founder of the female leadership website Women’s Agenda. Marina is the Diversity Champion and former Chair of the Wests Tigers NRL Club. She has an MBA from The Australian Graduate School of Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women.
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Media enquiries: Please contact Walkley Foundation communications manager Clare Fletcher on clare.fletcher@walkleys.com.
Find out more about the Walkley Foundation Directors here.
Find out more about the Governance of the Walkley Foundation here.