The Friends Board has launched a monthly series of late-afternoon talks on topical issues, to be held in the State Library's Hetzel Lecture Theatre on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 5pm for wine and nibbles and speaker from 5.30 - 6.30pm.
The initial series will have a North Terrace focus. Our speakers will be luminaries from many of our neighbouring institutions. We refer to this over the coming months as our Proximity Round.
The initial series will have a North Terrace focus. Our speakers will be luminaries from many of our neighbouring institutions. We refer to this over the coming months as our Proximity Round.
Program 2025
FEBRUARY 18 Greg Mackie, OAM, CEO of the History Trust of South Australia
Greg is responsible for the overall management of the organisation. He works with the Board to set strategic directions and oversee policy development. Cutting his teeth as a cabaret musician and department store executive, Greg co-founded and was managing director of Adelaide’s iconic Imprints Booksellers (1984-2007). With a wealth of governance experience, including two terms as an Elected Member of the City of Adelaide Council (2000-03 and 2020-22) and on the boards of many community benefit, arts and cultural organisations, Greg went on to head up Arts SA, becoming Deputy Chief Executive in the SA Premier’s Department, where his stewardship included the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Program, Capital City Directorate, and The Integrated Design Commission SA. He was founder and is now Chairman of The Adelaide Festival of Ideas. In 2012 Greg moved to SA Health to head up Office for the Ageing, and interim Director at the Botanic Gardens. Greg joined the History Trust of South Australia in April 2016.
APRIL 15 Elaine Benstead, Chief Executive, Zoos South Australia
Elaine Bensted is Chief Executive, Zoos South Australia commencing in 2012. Since being in the role Elaine has led an improvement in the financial position of this conservation charity and an increase in Zoos SA membership base from 26,000 to over 50,000. She also led the work that culminated in the release of a 20-year Master Plan for Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park. This has recently seen the opening of new Visitor Centre at Monarto and exciting plans for new accommodation and safari experiences. Elaine is Council member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium, President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association and Board member on a number of local and International Boards.
MAY 20 Paul Turley, Minister, Scots Church
Paul Turley is a minister with the Uniting Church in Australia, currently serving in Scots Church Adelaide and with the Wimala Presbytery of South Australia. Paul has lived and worked in different parts of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He has written for religious publications and curriculums, has a particular interest in poetry, and blogs at sundaybible.substack.com.
JUNE 17 Paul Leadbeter, National Trust of South Australia SA
Paul Leadbeter has been a Councillor of National Trust for four years and for the last two years also President. Paul is a qualified lawyer and legal academic whose specialty is Environmental and Land Use Planning Law. He has an adjunct role with Adelaide Law School and is a member of the State Commission Assessment Panel. In 2023, Paul was made a member of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). He has held previous roles on the governing boards of the Australian Conservation Foundation, the SA Environmental Defenders Office and the Conservation Council of SA. Paul believes conserving SA heritage buildings and places for the benefits of present and future generations is essential and supports adaptive reuse of appropriate heritage buildings provided the building's recognised heritage values are protected. He is keen to try and increase the interest of younger people in heritage and the work of the National Trust.
JULY MID WINTER BREAK
AUG 19 Brian Parkes, CEO JamFactory
Brian Parkes has been CEO at JamFactory in Adelaide since April 2010. He has overseen significant development of the organisation’s exhibition and training programs and substantial growth in its audience and operational budget. He is passionate about the social, cultural and economic value of art, craft and design and has worked in senior curatorial and commercial management roles in the visual art, craft and design sector in Australia for over 30 years, including stints at the Australian Design Centre, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Gallery of Australia. He has curated numerous exhibitions focused on contemporary Australian craft and design and has remained active in mentoring and supporting emerging artists, designers and creative entrepreneurs over the past two decades.
SEPT 16 Prof Maria Makrides, Executive Director SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)
Professor Maria Makrides is the Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). As a clinical nutritionist, Maria is committed to improving the nutrition and health of mothers and their babies through the conduct and translation of high quality research. She has over 300 peer reviewed publications. Maria's work has been responsible for changes in international policy regarding the safe composition of infant foods, national and international guidance on diet and supplementation during pregnancy, and infant feeding guidelines to minimise the risk of childhood allergies. She is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. Maria was awarded South Australian Scientist of the Year in 2022.
OCT 21 Michael Harvey, Director Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Michael joined the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia as Director in 2021, bringing 20 years of experience in the museum, culture and science sector to the role. His particular focus has been on the development of public experience in museums of science and natural history. Before coming to Adelaide to work at the botanic gardens, Michael held leadership positions in the Australian Museum and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, and at the Natural History Museum in London. Most recently, Michael worked as Assistant Director and Chief Experience Officer at the Australian National Maritime Museum, a role that blended ocean science and sustainability, history and maritime archaeology, and First Nations and migration programs. At the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Michael has overseen major capital works, a revitalisation of its public programming and significant growth in visitation and changes to the organisation’s governance and planning.
NOV 18 Leigh Radford OAM, Royal Geographic Society SA
Leigh Radford OAM began his broadcast career with the ABC as a trainee Rural Reporter in the 1980’s and has worked at all levels of regional, state and national reporting. He was the head of all ABC Rural output from 2005 until July 2017 and is a multi-award winning broadcaster. He still works as a casual presenter for ABC Radio Adelaide. Leigh has been involved with the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists for over a decade and has represented Australian Agricultural Journalists as an Executive to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) since 2011. He was appointed as a Board Director to the Global Foundation for Agricultural Journalists in 2024. Leigh has been recognised as an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation ‘in recognition of exceptional service and commitment to rural and regional Australia’. He has also been honoured by Rural Media South Australia as a “Rural Media Icon” for his ‘long term contribution to rural media in Australia’. He was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in 2019 for service to the broadcast media in rural and regional areas. Leigh is a Geographer by training and has been President of the Royal Geographical Society of SA for the last 6 years. He’s married to Tracey and has two children – Luke, a Journalist with the ABC and Sophie, a Lawyer with an Aboriginal Family legal service in the Northern Territory. Leigh and Tracey live in their own little Botanical Garden in the Adelaide Hills.
Greg is responsible for the overall management of the organisation. He works with the Board to set strategic directions and oversee policy development. Cutting his teeth as a cabaret musician and department store executive, Greg co-founded and was managing director of Adelaide’s iconic Imprints Booksellers (1984-2007). With a wealth of governance experience, including two terms as an Elected Member of the City of Adelaide Council (2000-03 and 2020-22) and on the boards of many community benefit, arts and cultural organisations, Greg went on to head up Arts SA, becoming Deputy Chief Executive in the SA Premier’s Department, where his stewardship included the Adelaide Thinkers in Residence Program, Capital City Directorate, and The Integrated Design Commission SA. He was founder and is now Chairman of The Adelaide Festival of Ideas. In 2012 Greg moved to SA Health to head up Office for the Ageing, and interim Director at the Botanic Gardens. Greg joined the History Trust of South Australia in April 2016.
APRIL 15 Elaine Benstead, Chief Executive, Zoos South Australia
Elaine Bensted is Chief Executive, Zoos South Australia commencing in 2012. Since being in the role Elaine has led an improvement in the financial position of this conservation charity and an increase in Zoos SA membership base from 26,000 to over 50,000. She also led the work that culminated in the release of a 20-year Master Plan for Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park. This has recently seen the opening of new Visitor Centre at Monarto and exciting plans for new accommodation and safari experiences. Elaine is Council member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquarium, President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association and Board member on a number of local and International Boards.
MAY 20 Paul Turley, Minister, Scots Church
Paul Turley is a minister with the Uniting Church in Australia, currently serving in Scots Church Adelaide and with the Wimala Presbytery of South Australia. Paul has lived and worked in different parts of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He has written for religious publications and curriculums, has a particular interest in poetry, and blogs at sundaybible.substack.com.
JUNE 17 Paul Leadbeter, National Trust of South Australia SA
Paul Leadbeter has been a Councillor of National Trust for four years and for the last two years also President. Paul is a qualified lawyer and legal academic whose specialty is Environmental and Land Use Planning Law. He has an adjunct role with Adelaide Law School and is a member of the State Commission Assessment Panel. In 2023, Paul was made a member of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). He has held previous roles on the governing boards of the Australian Conservation Foundation, the SA Environmental Defenders Office and the Conservation Council of SA. Paul believes conserving SA heritage buildings and places for the benefits of present and future generations is essential and supports adaptive reuse of appropriate heritage buildings provided the building's recognised heritage values are protected. He is keen to try and increase the interest of younger people in heritage and the work of the National Trust.
JULY MID WINTER BREAK
AUG 19 Brian Parkes, CEO JamFactory
Brian Parkes has been CEO at JamFactory in Adelaide since April 2010. He has overseen significant development of the organisation’s exhibition and training programs and substantial growth in its audience and operational budget. He is passionate about the social, cultural and economic value of art, craft and design and has worked in senior curatorial and commercial management roles in the visual art, craft and design sector in Australia for over 30 years, including stints at the Australian Design Centre, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Gallery of Australia. He has curated numerous exhibitions focused on contemporary Australian craft and design and has remained active in mentoring and supporting emerging artists, designers and creative entrepreneurs over the past two decades.
SEPT 16 Prof Maria Makrides, Executive Director SAHMRI (South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)
Professor Maria Makrides is the Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). As a clinical nutritionist, Maria is committed to improving the nutrition and health of mothers and their babies through the conduct and translation of high quality research. She has over 300 peer reviewed publications. Maria's work has been responsible for changes in international policy regarding the safe composition of infant foods, national and international guidance on diet and supplementation during pregnancy, and infant feeding guidelines to minimise the risk of childhood allergies. She is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. Maria was awarded South Australian Scientist of the Year in 2022.
OCT 21 Michael Harvey, Director Adelaide Botanic Gardens
Michael joined the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia as Director in 2021, bringing 20 years of experience in the museum, culture and science sector to the role. His particular focus has been on the development of public experience in museums of science and natural history. Before coming to Adelaide to work at the botanic gardens, Michael held leadership positions in the Australian Museum and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, and at the Natural History Museum in London. Most recently, Michael worked as Assistant Director and Chief Experience Officer at the Australian National Maritime Museum, a role that blended ocean science and sustainability, history and maritime archaeology, and First Nations and migration programs. At the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Michael has overseen major capital works, a revitalisation of its public programming and significant growth in visitation and changes to the organisation’s governance and planning.
NOV 18 Leigh Radford OAM, Royal Geographic Society SA
Leigh Radford OAM began his broadcast career with the ABC as a trainee Rural Reporter in the 1980’s and has worked at all levels of regional, state and national reporting. He was the head of all ABC Rural output from 2005 until July 2017 and is a multi-award winning broadcaster. He still works as a casual presenter for ABC Radio Adelaide. Leigh has been involved with the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists for over a decade and has represented Australian Agricultural Journalists as an Executive to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) since 2011. He was appointed as a Board Director to the Global Foundation for Agricultural Journalists in 2024. Leigh has been recognised as an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation ‘in recognition of exceptional service and commitment to rural and regional Australia’. He has also been honoured by Rural Media South Australia as a “Rural Media Icon” for his ‘long term contribution to rural media in Australia’. He was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in 2019 for service to the broadcast media in rural and regional areas. Leigh is a Geographer by training and has been President of the Royal Geographical Society of SA for the last 6 years. He’s married to Tracey and has two children – Luke, a Journalist with the ABC and Sophie, a Lawyer with an Aboriginal Family legal service in the Northern Territory. Leigh and Tracey live in their own little Botanical Garden in the Adelaide Hills.
Contact
First Floor, Institute Building
Corner North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide Monday - Thursday 10am - 2pm PO Box 419 Adelaide SA 5001 Phone 08 7424 6310 [email protected] |
What we can offer
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