BoardConnect mourns the passing of James Strong AO, former Chair of the Australia Council, the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF), Woolworths and Insurance Australia Group.

James was also a board director and past CEO of Qantas, former Chair of Rip Curl and Chair of Kathmandu.

While undoubtedly one of Australia’s most prominent business figures, it is for his passionate support for and involvement in the arts that James will be remembered and sadly missed by us and many of our colleagues in the arts sector.

James played an important role in the early stages of our organisation, having launched BoardConnect in August 2008 at the State Library in Queensland. He also wrote the introduction to the first edition of The Book of the Board, by BoardConnect Director David Fishel.

We applaud his significant contribution to the arts and to Australia, and express our sincere condolences to his family. His passing leaves a space that will be hard to fill.