Guugu Yimithirr man Dean Gibson has become the first Aboriginal person appointed chair of the Queensland Theatre board. Photo: Supplied.
Hope Vale filmmaker Dean Gibson has made history as the first Aboriginal person to be appointed chair of the Queensland Theatre board.
The State Government made the announcement on 4 June the Guugu Yimithirr man would replace long-standing chair Elizabeth Jameson, who is standing down after 11 years with the organisation.
Mr Gibson is a renowned filmmaker, storyteller and producer, and has served on the board since May 2021.
He will assume the position of chair following a term as deputy chair of Queensland Theatre since June 2022, and as chair of the company’s Indigenous Reference Group, where he has contributed to the company’s artistic direction and programming of First Nations storytelling.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch congratulated Mr Gibson on his appointment and said she believed it would bring greater diversity to the organisation.
“Dean will be a champion of First Nations stories as chair of Queensland Theatre, and his award-winning screen experience will help drive the company to new levels of theatrical diversity, innovation and connection with audiences and communities,” she said.
Mr Gibson said storytelling was “the heart of who we are”.
“Story is everything,” he said.
“My career behind the camera has taught me that it all starts with a story and ends with a story.
“Story must be at the heart of this company; stories that challenge, stories that celebrate, and stories that bring truth to our past; they all have their place on our stages, across Queensland.”
