And former Victorian Government Arts Minister, award-winning journalist and writer, the Hon Mary Delahunty will join the Committee as a community representative with a background in the arts. 

Announcing the appointments today, University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis said Dr Switkowski and Ms Delahunty will bring a breadth of external experience to the Review Committee.

Dr Switkwoski has had a distinguished career in major Australian and international companies including Kodak and Optus before moving to Telstra. He is also a director of the Australian Major Performing Arts Group with strong arts board experience. A University of Melbourne graduate, Dr Switkowski holds a degree in Science with honours in Physics and a PhD.

Ms Delahunty served in several ministerial portfolios in the Victorian Parliament including Arts, Education, Planning and Women’s Affairs.  She has extensive experience on arts boards including the Melbourne Recital Centre and Orchestra Victoria.  She is a member of the board of the Harold Mitchell Foundation and the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Sculpture Foundation. Well-known for presenting ABC TV news and current affairs programs, the 7.30 Report and Four Corners, she received Australia's most prestigious award in journalism, a Gold Walkley, for her international Four Corners work.

These appointments to the Review Committee follow the release earlier this month of the Defining the Future discussion paper which signaled the beginning of an extensive consultation on the key challenges and opportunities facing the Faculty and the University in higher arts education.  Members of the Review Committee drawn from VCAM staff and students and the wider University, and the VCAM advisory board will be announced shortly.

The Review Committee is charged with considering the responses to the discussion paper, carrying out detailed discussions with key stakeholders, and preparing a report and recommendations for the Faculty and the University.

Dr Switkowski says he is delighted to lead this process which will help define the future of the Faculty of the VCA and Music.  "This is a chance to find the best way forward for higher arts education in Melbourne. The former VCA and the former Faculty of Music each have a rich heritage, but the future holds many challenges and opportunities we need to address together."

"There is a passion in this State for the Victorian College of the Arts," says Ms Delahunty.  "And I would like to see it modern, progressive and well-supported."

Submissions to the consultation are due by 12 February 2010 at   The Defining the Future discussion paper is online at http://vcam.unimelb.edu.a...

Meetings with key stakeholders and interested parties will be held in this period and the Review Committee aims to submit its findings to the Vice-Chancellor and the Dean of the Faculty of the VCA and Music during April 2010.