Our Board
Linden New Art is managed by a skilled group of volunteers who each contribute their skills, knowledge and networks to ensure Linden is governed by the highest standards.
SCOTT THOMSON
Chair
Scott is a Partner at SenateSHJ, a leading Australian communication and change consultancy. His career has spanned four continents, advising clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. His work is focused on building trust, protecting reputations and achieving specific reputational and operational outcomes. Scott is also a crisis & risk management practitioner who has worked on high-profile situations involving cyber-crime, executive crimes and misdemeanours, activist protests, regulatory investigations, environmental emergencies and health and safety incidents. He joined the Board in February 2019.
Ann BYRNE AM
Deputy Chair
Ann brings to Linden a passion for its work and experience as a director. Until 2013 she worked in the finance sector particularly in the management of superannuation funds as well as advocacy around the need for effective management of environmental, social and governance investment risk to achieve long term sustainable performance. Ann Byrne has board experience with private companies, not for profit organisations and international organisations. This experience ranges from airports, forestry, theatre companies, aid and development and investment management. Ann is also a long-term resident of the City of Port Phillip.
Arvind vasan
Treasurer
Arvind Vasan is a General Manager of Group Strategy & Development at the National Australia Bank (NAB) with over 15 years of strategy development and execution experience across multiple sectors in Australia, Europe & the Middle East. He holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD, Bachelor of Engineering & Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Arvind is also a Director of the Bayside Council Arts Board and a past Director of Blindside Gallery. Arvind is passionate about contemporary art and the support of up-and-coming artists. Arvind joined the Board in May 2020.
DAVID HAGGER
David Hagger is a Naarm/Melbourne based curator, consultant and project manager. For nearly two decades he has worked with Australian and international artists to realise projects for private and public galleries, art fairs, festivals and institutional, government and corporate stakeholders. David partners with ambitious clients, delivering strategic planning, specialist advice and project management services that enable collaborative, culturally driven creative outcomes. He has successfully delivered significant public artworks, most recently for the Museum of Contemporary Art, City of Parramatta, Knox City Council, Mansfield Shire Council and Pellicano’s Ballarat Railway Station redevelopment. He has curated exhibitions across public galleries including the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Benalla Art Gallery, Gippsland Art Gallery and Wyndham Art Gallery. David has long ties with Linden, having curated numerous exhibitions at the gallery since 2014. He joined the Board of Linden in May 2023.
DR. MEENA THURAISINGHAM
Meena is Founder and principal at BoardQ, an advisory practice specialising in top team and board effectiveness. Prior to that she has held several senior corporate and consulting roles across multiple sectors and geographies. Over her 30-year career she has been a lead consultant on a number of high profile complex organisational transformations for both for profit and not for profit entities. She is a non-executive director at The George Institute for Global Health, a research institute specialising in non-communicable diseases. She is also a non-Executive Director at Shared Value Project, a think tank that promotes shared value as a strategy to deliver social purpose profitably. She is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Psychological Society. Among her many passions is collecting contemporary art and is actively engaged in the performing arts scene in Melbourne.
Cr Tim Baxter
Cr Tim Baxter is a local member of COPP for over fifteen years. With a strong commitment to community welfare, Tim has actively worked with
dozens of community groups to enhance the neighborhood's well-being. During his tenure on Council advocated for Council to address the
Climate Emergency, bolstered Council's Sustainability Strategy and spearheaded efforts to enhance democracy and transparency. Tim's support
extended to his fellow Greens Councillors, facilitating transformative changes in Council's transport and waste strategies, among other
notable achievements. Tim's experience and knowledge allows him to stand for strong action on climate change. He believes we can be a
world leader of quality and clean living by reducing emissions and sustainable use of energy.
Andrea Frank
Andrea is a partner at Minter Ellison. Andrea has an extensive corporate practice advising across a range of legal issues, predominantly focussing on mergers and acquisitions and capital transactions in the real estate, hospitality and private wealth sectors as well as acting for international clients in relation to their Australian investments. Andrea also manages a number of Minter Ellison’s pro bono relationships. Andrea joined the Board of Linden in 2021.
Catherine Friday
Catherine is the Managing Partner of EY Oceania’s Government, Health and Lifesciences (GHS) practice, and has been in professional services (IBM, Andersen, EY) all her career. Her technical specialisation is Risk Management, and she has previously led the firm’s Governance, Risk and Compliance practice (Risk Transformation) across Oceania, and continues to deliver risk services to her own clients, in addition to managing the wider GHS portfolio. Catherine is also a Trustee and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Chair of Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust. She has had previous board roles with the Risk Management Institute of Australasia, Equestrian Australia, and the ACT Mental Health Foundation.
PAUL DULDIG
Paul is Chief Executive Officer at State Library Victoria. A graduate of Columbia University New York, The University of Adelaide and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Paul has extensive experience in leadership, governance, service delivery and change management. He also has studied Art History at Masters level and is developing an emerging visual art practice. As CEO Paul has responsibility amongst other things for the substantial art collection of the Library, and exhibitions of the State Collection. Paul is also a board member of Art Monthly Australasia and a past board member of the Australian Dance Theatre.