The Judith Neilson Institute has appointed the billionaire philanthropist’s lawyer and daughter to the board as Neilson consolidates his control of the $ 100 million in journalistic support he promised in 2018.
The two new directors: daughter Beau Neilson, creative director at Phoenix Central Park and attorney Daniel Appleby, director of the Judith Neilson Head Trust, were appointed at a JNI board meeting Thursday.
Neilson’s two allies replace the four independent councilors who resigned en masse in protest of the employer’s plans to change the direction of the institute.
The directors who resigned were former Chief Justice of New South Wales James Spigelman, the editor-in-chief of the Australian, Paul Kelly, the head of Free TV, Bridget Fair, and the former executive director of the Victoria Kate Torney State Library.
Under JNI Executive Director Mark Ryan, the institute has delivered $ 2.5 million in grants to everyone, from major media organizations to community groups, and has organized a number of educational events and programs.
The institute, housed in an upgraded heritage building inside Sydney’s Chippendale, which was donated by Neilson, was set up as a non-partisan charity governed by an independent board.
But last week it emerged that Neilson was dissatisfied with some of the decisions made by the organization and had indicated that he wanted to be more involved in its management.
Neilson, who has broad philanthropic interests, wants to fund social change journalism, indicating that he is moving away from giving subsidies to media giants.
According to leaked emails, Ryan opposed the measure and warned the international advisory board that the organization was “out of control.” However, only four of the 12 members of the advisory board signed the letter to Neilson. Ryan continues on the board, but is believed to be negotiating a way out.
The executive director of Neilson’s family office, Simon Freeman, told Guardian Australia that Neilson wanted to move the organization “in a slightly different direction”.
“Judith acknowledges the effort of what has come so far, but has decided she wants to move in a slightly different direction, which is more focused on social change journalism,” Freeman said.
Guardian Australia, like other media organizations, has had several projects funded by the institute, including the Pacific Project.
When he founded the JNI, he said he would “look to experienced journalists and other experts to manage and guide their work.”
“I know that traditional forms of journalism are undergoing a massive shift and that journalism and Australian intellectual life need a shot in the arm,” he said in 2018.
However, Neilson now wants to focus on grassroots journalism and communities that the media does not cater to.