AM Trust Presidents

Brian Hartzer was appointed President of the Australian Museum Trust in January 2023 after appointment as a Trustee in January 2021. Brian is an experienced executive, leadership mentor, and investor who served as CEO of the Westpac Banking Group from 2015 to 2019.

Brian is currently Chairman of Beforepay, a Sydney-based Fintech startup, and is an angel investor and advisor to several other early-stage companies. He is also a senior advisor to Sayers Group, a Melbourne-based investment advisory and consultancy, and to Quantium, a Sydney-based data science company.

David Armstrong is a chartered accountant with a long and distinguished career providing professional services for financial services organisations in London and New York as well as in Australia. He is a Director of Opera Australia Capital Fund, the Museum’s Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation and the George Institute and was appointed President of the Australian Museum Trust in 2018.

Catherine started her career with Price Waterhouse followed by nearly 20 years in the field of implantable medical devices. She provided valuable service on a variety of committees and boards utilising her expertise in technology, finance and strategy and became an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to the development of Australian science, technology and innovation policies, to the business sector through leadership and management roles and as a contributor to professional organisations. She became President of the Australian Museum Trust in 2012.

Sam Mostyn, who became President of the Australian Museum Trust in 2010 began her career working for former high court judge Michael Kirby followed by an appointment as a policy advisor to Paul Keating. She has held positions such as Deputy Chair of Diversity Council Australia and has been on the board for Citi Australia, Mirvac, and Virgin Australia to name a few. Sam was awarded an AO in the 2021 Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to business and sustainability, and to the community.

Brian, an entrepreneur and businessman, became president of the Australian Museum Trust in 2001 and was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for his philanthropy and his services to the community. He is co-founder and managing director of the animal charity Voiceless. In 2014 he and his wife Gene received the B'nai B'rith Gold Medal for outstanding humanitarianism.

After a long and varied career as a television and broadcasting executive Malcolm was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for significant service to the performing arts and to the broadcasting and communications industries. He served as president of the Australian Museum Trust from 1996 to 2000.

Patricia had a diverse career in arts, marketing and media and is a recognized publishing industry expert on copyright. She served on various boards and funding bodies including the Board of the Sydney Film Festival and as a member of the New South Wales Arts Advisory Council. She joined the Museum Trust in 1992 and was appointed President in 1994.

Robyn has been producer/presenter of the ABC "Science Show" since 1975. He served as a Chairman of the Commission for the Future and was a member of the National Commission for UNESCO. In 1987, he was proclaimed a National Living Treasure and was appointed AM in the 1988 Australian Bicentenary honours list. He joined the Trust in 1984 and was elected President in 1986.

Kris, an educator, administrator and economic historian, served five years as Deputy President of the Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales, the first female to take the role. She was appointed to the Australian Museum Trust in 1978 and elected as its first female President. In 1987, after leaving the Trust, she was appointed OAM for service to education and to the social welfare of the community.

Joe began his career as an academic in the field of chemistry but subsequently branched out into marine biology, and the study of the environment more broadly. From 1985 he was Director of the Australian Institute of Marine Science; just one of the roles of his long and distinguished career. During his tenure as President of the Trust he was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1982 for services to marine science. In 2002 he was appointed as an officer in the Order of Australia for his contribution to environmental studies and chemistry.

Michael Pitman was a plant biologist, with an abiding interest in whole-plant physiology. After a career as an academic he made the move to the CSIRO while also serving as President of the Museum Trust, Chairman of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust and member of many scientific committees and councils. He was Australia's Chief Scientist from 1992 to 1996.

In 1941 Keith began his career with the CSIR, which later became the CSIRO. This was interrupted by a three-year research fellowship at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. After returning to Australia Keith was elected a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. He served as a consultant with UNESCO and was a founding member of the Australian Academy of Technical Sciences. He became a Trustee of the Australian Museum in 1966 and served as President of the Trust. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1977.

Harold Maze was a geographer at the University of Sydney. He became Registrar and subsequently, Deputy Principal of the University and was responsible for negotiating with state and local authorities to allow the University to expand into the Darlington area. He served on a number of boards and councils and was awarded an MBE for services to the community.

A. P. Elkin was a minister in the Anglican church whose fascination with indigenous Australians led him to pursue a career in Anthropology. He became a Professor of Anthropology, a somewhat controversial advisor to governments on Aboriginal issues and chairman of the anthropological committee of the Australian National Research Council. In 1966 he was appointed C.M.G.

Frank Spencer had a long and successful career firstly as a manager, and ultimately as a company director with Nestlé both in Australia and New Zealand. He became a trustee of the Australian Museum in 1939, crown trustee in 1958 and was president from 1960 to 1961.

Wallace Wurth became a junior clerk in the New South Wales public service in 1912 and by 1939 he was chairman of the state Public Service Board. He was appointed C.M.G. in 1941 and after WWII was instrumental in the establishment of the New South Wales University of Technology, now the University of New South Wales. He became President of the Trust in 1959 and died in office.

Hamilton Mathews had a long career as a surveyor, becoming surveyor-general in 1926, but his interests were very diverse. Not only was he President of the Australian Museum Trust from 1945 to 1958, he was a member of the Royal Society of New South Wales and served on a wide variety of boards and committees.

Frederick Mance joined the state Mines Department straight from school and became Under-Secretary for Mines after 34 years of service. He was a member of the Museum Trust from 1926 and served as President from 1931 until his death in 1945.

Athol Waterhouse was honorary entomologist for the Australian Museum and published both popular and scientific works on butterflies. He was a member of the Linnean Society, Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, Australian National Research Council, Royal Society of New South Wales and ANZAAS. He stepped in as President of the Museum Trust when the previous incumbent resigned in early 1930 but did not seek re-election in 1931.

Sir Charles Rosenthal was a major in the militia when WWI broke out. He joined the A.I.F. and was appointed CMG and KCB for his outstanding service. As well as the DSO and the Légion d'honneur, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by both Belgium and France. After the war he resumed his career as an architect while also serving as an alderman of Sydney Municipal Council, both MLA and MLC in the New South Wales parliament and President of the Australian Museum Trust.

Ernest Wunderlich was a businessman with wide-ranging interests in art, music, education and astronomy. He helped establish the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, was elected as a Trustee of the Australian Museum in 1914 and became President of the Trust in 1925.

Dr Thomas Storie Dixson had a long association with St John’s Ambulance Brigade and was active on many medical associations and boards. His interest in science led him to become a councillor of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, a member of the Geographical Society and a trustee of the Australian Museum. He was elected President of the Trust in 1918.

Henry Bradley practised as a solicitor and was also a respected arachnologist and horticulturalist. He was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, treasurer of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, served for 40 years as Trustee of the Australian Museum and was President of the Trust from 1912 until his death in 1918.

James Cox was a doctor and educator who lectured at Sydney University and was honorary physician at both Sydney Hospital and Prince Alfred Hospital. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales, fellow of the Linnean Society of London and Trustee of the Australian Museum for 47 years until his death in 1912. He was elected Chairman (later President) of the Trust in 1889.

After a career as attorney general in Van Diemen’s Land Sir Alfred Stephen moved to Sydney where he served as chief justice, President of the Legislative Council and lieutenant-governor; for his service he was awarded KCMG and GCMG. As well as being trustee of the Australian Museum, he was also a trustee of the National Art Gallery of NSW and of Hyde, Phillip and Cook Parks.

Alexander Scott was an entomologist who published widely on Australian lepidoptera. He was a rather unsuccessful entrepreneur, a magistrate, warden of the first Newcastle District Council, MLA, lands titles commissioner, member of the Entomological Society of New South Wales and of the Royal Society of New South Wales and trustee of the Australian Museum.

George Bennett was a medical practitioner and member of the Royal College of Surgeons with a great interest in natural history. He was elected fellow of the Linnean Society of London and corresponding member of the Zoological Society. He was Secretary and Curator of the Australian Museum from 1835 to 1841 and later served as chairman of the Australian Museum Trust.

1856, 1858, 1860-1861, 1864-1865, 1868-1872

Edward Deas Thomson began his career in New South Wales as clerk to the Executive and Legislative Councils and became Colonial Secretary in 1837. He held this position until 1856 and remained a member of the Legislative Council until his death. He was chancellor of the University of Sydney, a fellow of the Linnean Society in London, chairman of the Australian Museum Trust and in 1874 was appointed KCMG.

William Clarke was an Anglican clergyman whose keen interest in geology led to him serving as geological surveyor while also ministering to outlying areas of New South Wales. He was elected fellow of the Geological Society of London and the Royal Society of London, served as Secretary and Curator and later as trustee of the Australian Museum. He was a founder of the Royal Society of New South Wales; its Clarke medal awarded for distinguished research in the natural sciences commemorates his work.

George Turner was a minister of religion with a great interest in botany. He was a member from its inception of the Committee of Superintendence which managed both the Australian Museum and the Botanical Gardens and served on the subsequent Board of Trustees of the Australian Museum until his death in 1869.

William Macarthur was a landowner and politician who established the first commercial vineyard in Australia and became President of the NSW Vineyard Association. He was elected to the Legislative Council and subsequently appointed as a Life Member. He was a member from its inception of the Committee of Superintendence of the Australian Museum and served on its subsequent Board of Trustees until he retired from the Board in 1870.

William Sharp Macleay was a British administrator and naturalist who moved to Australia in 1839. He was a member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, was elected to the councils of both the Linnean Society of London and the Zoological Society and was a fellow of the Royal Society. He served on committee of the Museum from 1841 and then as a trustee until ill health forced him to resign in 1862.

Alexander Macleay was a British public servant and entomologist. He was elected fellow of the Linnean Society, and also of the Royal Society. He moved to Australia to take up an appointment as Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, served in that role for twelve years and was subsequently elected to the Legislative Council. He supported the Botanical Gardens and was founding chairman of the Committee of Superintendence of the Australian Museum.