Appointment to the ABC and SBS Nomination Panel(link is external)

The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, has appointed Ms Phillipa McDermott as a Member of the Nomination Panel for appointments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Boards.

Appointed in accordance with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, Ms McDermott's term will run from 24 June 2026 to 23 June 2029.

Ms McDermott is a Wakka Wakka and Mununjali woman from the North Coast of NSW. She has more than 30 years' experience in media, arts and employment, and is currently the Chair of the Bangarra Dance Theatre and Executive Manager Canter of Excellence Indigenous Experience at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Ms McDermott has also previously held roles at Deloitte and the ABC.

The Nomination Panel was established to:

• Conduct selection process for non-executive Members and Chairpersons to the ABC and SBS Boards, based on the principle of merit and having regard to the selection criteria provided by the Minister for Communications.
• Provide the Minister for Communications (and in the case of the ABC Chairperson, the Prime Minister) with a written shortlist of at least 3 recommended candidates for each vacancy, with a comparative assessment of the recommended candidates.

The Nomination Panel carries out its functions with the assistance of a secretariat within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

Dr Kennedy would like to thank Ms Daryl Karp AM, whose term concludes on 30 June 2026, for her valuable contribution as a member of the Nomination Panel since 1 July 2023.