SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.- After an extensive national and international search the Board of the Biennale of Sydney announced today the appointment of Ms Marah Braye as the new CEO. The Chairman of the Biennale of Sydney, Luca Belgiorno-Nettis, said that Ms. Braye was the unanimous choice of the Board.

“We think Marah will bring to the position not just youthful energy but excellent experience gained through first rate commercial arts organisations. It’s a bonus to have found these qualities in a candidate with expertise in the Australian arts industry.”

Since 2001, Marah Braye has been General Manager of Sherman Galleries in Sydney. With a career spanning arts management and visual arts publishing, she offers the Biennale of Sydney a unique combination of management, business, administrative and creative skills. Prior to her position at Sherman Galleries, Ms Braye worked in publishing for twelve years – including five years as Managing Editor of Fine Art Publishing, where she produced publications on contemporary Australian and international art. Previously she had spent several years at Harper Collins Publishers as Publishing Manager and Development Editor.

On announcement of her appointment Ms Braye said “I am delighted to be joining the staff of the Biennale of Sydney as CEO. I inherit an exemplary organisational infrastructure from Paula Latos-Valier, and I look forward to guiding the Biennale into the next successful phase of its development.”

“Zones of Contact, the current Biennale directed and curated by Dr Charles Merewether, is one of the most thought-provoking and ambitious in the Biennale’s history. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Biennale staff, Board, and new Artistic Director, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, on the 2008 Biennale of Sydney.”

Ms Braye takes over as CEO at the beginning of October 2006 from the current Managing Director, Paula Latos-Valier, who retires this year, after an association of more than 20 years with the Biennale. Ms Latos-Valier will be leaving the organisation after her ninth Biennale on a high note – with attendances at the current Biennale set to break all records. Under Ms Latos-Valier’s leadership the Biennale experienced significant increases in public and private support including being a major recipient of funding received through the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. In addition to our Australian supporters we gratefully acknowledge the support of participating foreign governments and funding agencies.

The Australia Council for the Arts' Director of Visual Arts, Anna Waldmann, commented, "The Biennale of Sydney has been privileged to have the stability of an exceptional, strong and experienced General Manager, Paula Latos-Valier. The Australia Council looks forward with great anticipation to working with Marah Braye as the new CEO to ensure that the Biennale of Sydney remains an important forum for artistic dialogue and international cultural exchange."

The Director-General of the NSW Department of the Arts, Sport and Recreation, Mr Bob Adby, said “Paula Latos-Valier has successfully managed the Biennale through a period of sustained growth and development and has done so with enormous dedication and energy, for which we thank her. The Government also congratulates and welcomes Ms Braye on her appointment, and looks forward to the Biennale’s continuing success under her administration.”

Ms Braye was selected after a comprehensive search undertaken on behalf of the Biennale of Sydney by Chris Thomas of Egon Zehnder and Associates.