After nearly eight years as chief executive officer of the Australia Council for the Arts, Ms Jennifer Bott is stepping down from her role with the Australian Government’s primary arts funding and advisory body. She will leave the organisation on 19 September 2006.

Announcing the move today, Australia Council for the Arts chairman, James Strong AO, paid tribute to Ms Bott’s leadership. ‘Jennifer Bott and her management team and staff have achieved significant new funding for the arts as well as new policy and program priorities such as education and the arts, Indigenous Arts, international activities, artists’ earned income and whole of government strategies. The arts catalyst model, which enables the Australia Council to have greater flexibility and impact, gives the organisation a central role in Australia’s future as a creative nation. She leaves a great legacy for others to build on.’

Ms Bott said: ‘I am very proud to have taken the Australia Council for the Arts to a new stage of its development, and to have worked with so many talented and committed people along the way. It’s been an exhilarating and illuminating journey. Now it’s time for someone else to bring their vision to the Australia Council and to the many challenges facing the Australian arts. I wish James Strong and all the members of the Council, and the management and staff of the Australia Council a bright and successful future.’

Ms Bott was appointed CEO for five years in February 1999, and was reappointed for a further three years in February 2004. Before joining the Australia Council for the Arts she was general manager of Musica Viva Australia for seven years and held senior management positions with Opera Australia, AFS International/Intercultural Programs and the Arts Council of Australia (now Regional Arts Australia).

Ms Bott was also a long term member of the board of directors of Opera Australia, vice chair of the international board of trustees of AFS international/intercultural programs (NYC) and is a trustee of Opera Australia’s Benevolent Fund, a life member of Musica Viva Australia and a member of Chief Executive Women.

Ms Bott is moving to a new field and will take up the position of chief executive of the University of New South Wales Foundation on Monday 9 October 2006.