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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 52| August 2001


Library Says Goodbye to Jim Bain and Welcomes New Chairman

Sir James Gobbo Dr Ian Watt Dr Colin Rubenstein
Chairman of Council,
the Hon. Sir James Gobbo, AC
Council member, Dr Ian Watt,
Secretary at the Department of Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA)
Council member, Dr Colin Rubenstein,
Executive Director of the Australia/Israel and
Jewish Affairs Council

On 26 June, Mr Jim Bain, AM stepped down from the Council of the National Library of Australia having completed his three-year term as Chairman.

In a media release issued on 25 June, the Federal Minister for the Arts and Centenary of Federation, The Hon. Peter McGauran, expressed his ‘admiration and appreciation’ for the work that Mr Bain has done for the Council, mentioning in particular that his ‘contribution to the Library’s fundraising and sponsorship program has proven extremely valuable’.

Mr Bain has been a tireless and enthusiastic Chairman who during his tenure has exercised leadership on many Council matters. Under Council’s direction, the Library has successfully implemented major changes in financial and performance management, in keeping with the Government’s reform agenda.

The Library wishes Mr Bain a fond goodbye and all good wishes for the future.

While farewelling Mr Bain, Minister McGauran announced The Hon. Sir James A. Gobbo, AC as the next Chairman of the Council of the National Library of Australia. The appointment commenced on 27 June and is for a three-year term.

Sir James is currently Victorian Commissioner for Italy and is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court and immediate past Governor of Victoria. He has been involved in a range of social and cultural bodies including the Australian Council of Multicultural Affairs and the Victorian Opera Foundation. He received a knighthood for services to the community in 1982.

Minister McGauran said that Sir James’ considerable legal and managerial experience, and his significant commitment to the community will be of immensebenefit to the Council.

In addition, two further three-year appointments to Council have been announced.

These are Dr Ian Watt, Secretary at the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) and Dr Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC). Dr Rubenstein was appointed in February.

Before taking up his present position at DCITA, Dr Watt was Deputy Secretary of the Economic, Industry and Resources Policy Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In 1994, he was posted to the Australian Embassy in Washington DC as Minister (Economic).

AIJAC is the Australian Jewish community’s leading public affairs organisation, which publishes The Review and contributes to informed discussion about the Middle East and implications for Australia and Asia and deals with a wide range of public policy issues important to world Jewry.

Dr Rubenstein was a senior consultant to the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs from 1980–1985, a member of the Victorian Multicultural Affairs Commission, 1992–1996, and from 1997–1999 a member of the Federal Government’s National Multicultural Advisory Council and since July 2000 a member of the Federal Government’s Council for Multicultural Australia. He has lectured internationally on global affairs, and is a frequent commentator in the Australian media.
—Dale Forrest

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