We are delighted to welcome Pamela Creed as the newly elected President of ABC Friends Victoria. Pam has been Vice President of the Victorian Division and Convenor of the Development Subcommittee for the past three years, and recently joined the (new) ABCF National Board. She has been the Convenor of the ABCF NewGen Initiative since its inception, and a major driver of our program to engage young people in the work of ABC Friends.

Pam’s background includes a range of leadership roles in tertiary arts education and training. She established the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), as a national centre for excellence in the performing arts, and was founding CEO/Director for 15 years. Prior to this, she was Head of Visual and Performing Arts at Swinburne University. Other positions have included interim Director-Academy of Design/LCI International, Creative Producer Circolombia for Carnival Australia, and Director of CityArts. Pam was a Ministerial appointments to the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, and served on both arts and vocational education advisory boards of the Victorian Government. NFP board experience includes the Next Wave, the Academy of Design, and the Boite (former Chair).

Pam follows Michael Henry as ABCF Victorian President, and Michael has been elected Vice President, with a brief to concentrate on the coming election campaign and the associated Victorian e-news. The Committee of Management saw this as the best allocation of ABCF’s volunteer leadership resources. Pam will take on the multi-layered Presidential brief, including building relationships with the National Board, ABC Alumni, the ABC itself, allied organisations, and with the federal government. She will pay particular attention to attracting new members and engaging young people, and to enhancing membership and Group support towards the long term sustainability of ABC Friends. As President, she will lead and drive the core role of ABC Friends Victoria in supporting and strengthening the ABC.

We are very grateful to Pam for agreeing to accept this role, and we are excited by the potential for a new era of growth and effectiveness for ABC Friends.

The Committee of Management unanimously passed the following resolution:

“The CoM records its thanks for the extraordinary contribution Michael has made as President of ABC Friends Victoria to provide leadership on: our grassroots work and presence across Victoria; effective campaigning in state and federal elections and advocacy for the ABC; innovative engagement with youth and potential benefactors to build ABCF Victoria’s reach and financial sustainability; building relationships at the national level, and collaborating with alumni and other jurisdictions, including the successful delivery of the ABC Friends new National Board.”