Louisa Graham will step down as chief executive of the Walkley Foundation, which runs the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, later this year.
Thee end of her current contract marks 10 years at the foundation, first as general manager and then as chief executive for four years.
Foundation chair Marina Go: “Louisa has displayed tremendous leadership throughout her tenure and the Board thanks her for her service to the media industry.
“The Walkley Foundation is now in the strongest position it has ever been. Louisa has worked closely with our partners to ensure we remain at the heart of the Australian media industry. Thanks to her and her team, we are an independent and financially stable not-for-profit. We wish her well on her next journey.”
Louisa Graham: “I am immensely proud of what I have achieved at the foundation and I depart having significantly grown the Walkleys’ equity and stakeholder base.
“It is encouraging to see so many of Australia’s leading companies, universities, state governments, industry bodies and now philanthropic organisations demonstrate their support for quality journalism through the Walkley Foundation."
The recruitment process for a new CEO is under way.
In other changes, the ABC's Michael Brissenden is the new chair of the Walkley Judging Board, following Lenore Taylor’s decision to step down.
Taylor, editor of Guardian Australia, joined the Judging Board in 2017 and became its chair in November 2018. Claire Harvey, editorial director at The Australian, remains as deputy chair.
Brissenden is a two-time Walkley Award-winning journalist who has served as a political and foreign correspondent in a career with the ABC starting in 1987.
“It is an honour and a privilege to lead the Judging Board, which sets the industry standard for excellence and best practice in journalism,” he says.
“I’m particularly pleased to be following the inimitable Lenore Taylor in this role. The Walkleys hold a vital place in the Australian media landscape and I look forward to working with my fellow judges to ensure that the awards continue to define, celebrate and encourage the best of what we do.”
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