New appointments to the SBS Board

The Albanese Government has appointed Mr Aaron Fa’Aoso and Dr Andrew Lu AM as non-executive Directors to the SBS Board for five-year terms.

Ms Christine Zeitz has also been reappointed as a non-executive Director and Deputy Chairperson for a period of five years.

Ms Zeitz has been a non-executive Director on the SBS Board since 2018 and Deputy Chairperson since 2021. Currently she is General Manager, Asia Pacific of Northrop Grumman Corporation. She was previously Chief Executive Officer of Leidos Australia and Vice President of Lockheed Martin Australia Pty Ltd.

Mr Fa’Aoso is an Australian actor, screenwriter and producer. He established Lone Star Productions in 2013, which brings stories of the people of the Torres Strait Islands and North Queensland to the screen. He is a Board Member of Screen Queensland and serves on the Far North and North Queensland Screen Advisory Committee, Screen Producers Australia Council and the National Film and Sound Archive Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Dr Lu AM is President of the Mental Health Tribunal of Western Australia and was previously a dispute resolution lawyer in private practice, including most recently as partner at HBA Legal. He is an Adjunct Professor of Curtin University Law School and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. Dr Lu is also non-executive director of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

These non-executive Directors were nominated for appointment by the Nomination Panel as part of the merit-based appointment process for the ABC and SBS Boards.

The Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, congratulated Ms Zeitz, Mr Fa’Aoso and Dr Lu on their appointments and noted they will make valuable contributions to the Board.

Minister Rowland also acknowledged the contributions of Mr William Lenehan and

Ms Dorothy West OAM whose terms concluded in November 2022.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:

“The SBS Board plays an important role in ensuring the SBS fulfils its charter of reflecting Australia’s multicultural society and informing, educating and entertaining all Australians.”

“These appointments will bring new perspectives to the Board as the SBS continues to deliver its valued multiplatform media services to the community.”