The National Trust (Victoria) has elected Dr Graeme Blackman as its new Chairman and Mr Martin Purslow has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer.

The changes follow the recent retirements of Mrs Dianne Weidner as Chair and Mr Stephen Hare as CEO.

Dr Blackman paid tribute to Mrs Wiedner’s contribution to the National Trust.

‘Mrs Weidner has been closely involved with the National Trust in both Queensland and Victoria over 3 decades. One of her most significant achievements was the inclusion of Rippon Lea, the Trust’s flagship property in Elsternwick, on the Federal Government’s National Heritage List.

‘A board member in Victoria for 18 years, Mrs Weidner has been Chair of the Trust here for 3 years, having previously led the Queensland National Trust. Her Order of Australia Medal was bestowed in part for her services to the National Trust.’

Dr Graeme Blackman has an impressive track record, in both the private and not-for-profit sectors.

He has been a member of the National Trust for 14 years, and became a Director in July 2005. Dr Blackman has also been involved in a range of community activities, including his chairmanship of Anglicare Victoria, as a Board Member of Trinity College (University of Melbourne) and as former Deputy Chairman of Melbourne Grammar School.

A recognized community leader, Dr Blackman has received a number of prestigious awards, including
• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• the Commonwealth Centenary Medal
• the Leighton Medal of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute
• and as a recent inductee into the Victorian Government’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

As founder and Chairman of the Institute of Drug Technology Australia Limited, he has been responsible for the company’s considerable success, and its position as an internationally recognized pharmaceutical company.

Mr Martin Purslow is currently the Conservation Manager for the National Trust and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the CEO’s position.

He is a former Chief Executive of the Paxton Trust in Scotland, a position which included the management of invaluable collections from the National Galleries of Scotland.

Mr Purslow has also acted as CEO of the Bexley Heritage Trust, an independent charitable trust, where he directed the restoration and opening by The Queen of Danson House, described by English Heritage as ‘”the most significant building at risk in London”.

He has also been active in heritage tourism development in the UK, as Chairman for the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2005 in recognition of his work in the UK for heritage and the arts.

‘As Conservation Manager, I have developed an intimate understanding of the cultural and heritage issues facing the National Trust here in Victoria, and I’m confident that we have the will and expertise to succeed,’ he said.

The Board