New Chief for Major Victorian Trust
18 October 2013 at 6:28 pm
Well-known arts administrator Lin Bender has been appointed as Chief Executive of the $95 million Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.
Prior to the appointment, Bender has been Grants Executive of the Trust since August 2012, and with the Trustees, has been contributing to major changes in the Trust’s grant-giving strategies.
She has also held positions as senior planning manager for various major projects at arts and culture organisations, including Melbourne Recital Centre, Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), 3MBS and Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF), in the fields of strategic development, funding, marketing and administration.
“The Trustees have conducted an extensive search for our new Chief Executive and Lin has the ability, drive and personality to be an inspiring leader as the Trust embarks on a new era of grant-making for the lasting benefit of Victoria,” Trustees Chairman Darvell Hutchinson said.
Bender was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to arts administration through executive roles with a range of cultural organisations.
The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust (known prior to 2001 as the Helen M Schutt Trust) was established by benefactress, the late Helen M Schutt (née Smith) in 1951.
Her Will directed that the income from her estate should be paid in perpetuity at the discretion of Trustees to charitable institutions situated in Victoria.
The Trust decided to revert back to the philanthropist’s family names, Macpherson and Smith, in 2001.
The Trust said the decision was made due to Helen’s money originally coming from her parents and grandparents, the Macphersons and Smiths, who were landowners and timber merchants, so it seemed more appropriate to honour those connections.
Helen bequeathed £275,000 to start the Trust. Today the capital of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is valued at $95 million.
According to the Trust, 2014 represents a milestone year for the Trust as it reaches distributions of more than $100 million to Victorian charities.
