National Gallery Singapore appoints four new board members

SINGAPORE – The National Gallery Singapore (NGS) has appointed four new board members, it announced on Tuesday (Aug 29).

Dr Apinan Poshyananda, Ms Shareen Khattar, Ms Jennie Chua and Ms Chang Hwee Nee’s joined the board in July, and are taking over from retiring members Ms Jane Ittogi, Mr Benson Puah, and Ms Kathy Lai.

In a media release, the National Gallery Singapore said: “These new appointments add to the strength and diversity of the Gallery’s Board with each member having rich and extensive backgrounds in different sectors, ranging from financial services to property, healthcare and academia.”

Internationally renowned curator and arts administrator, Poshyananda is the chief executive and artistic director of the first Bangkok Art Biennale 2018. He has also previously served as Director-General to the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, and Permanent Secretary and Acting Minister to the Ministry of Culture in Thailand.

Khattar is a founding member and executive director of Platform Projects Ltd, a non-profit organisation that aimed to enrich the practice, knowledge and audience for contemporary art in Singapore and the region.

Additionally, Khattar is on the board of directors at homegrown theatre company Singapore Repertory Theatre and is a member of Britain’s modern art museum Tate Modern’s Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee. She is also a founding partner of Singapore-based F&B companies The Marmalade Group and The Big Idea.

Meanwhile, the other two new board members include Chang, who was appointed National Heritage Board’s chief executive officer in May 2017, and Chua, who is known for her work in Singapore’s hospitality industry and is currently Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Mexico.

The incumbents will take over three retiring board members.

Ittogi, a partner at law firm Shook Lin & Bok, also helms the Singapore Art Museum’s board of directors as its chairman. She joined the Gallery’s board over eight years ago in April 2009.

Puah, who is currently the chief executive officer of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, also served on the board for eight years since August 2009.

Lai, who was the National Arts Council chief executive until October last year when she returned to IE Singapore to become its deputy CEO (Special Duties) stepped down as National Arts Council’s chief executive officer last October to return to IE Singapore — the government agency driving Singapore’s external economy — to assume the appointment of its deputy CEO (Special Duties). She joined the Gallery’s board in December 2013.

In the release, the Gallery thanked the departing members for their services, “The unique perspectives of each board member have contributed to advancing the Gallery’s goal in furthering the understanding and appreciation of Singapore and Southeast Asian art, guiding the Gallery towards being a leading visual arts institution.”

The Gallery’s board is chaired by Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, with other members including Mr Jose Isidro N (Lito) Camacho, Mr Chew Choon Seng, Mrs Rosa Daniel, Mr Kwee Liong Seen, Dr Kenson Kwok, Dr Suriani Suratman, Mr Wee Sin Tho and Ms Chong Siak Ching, who is also the Gallery’s chief executive officer.