Dr Gene Sherman
Leading Australian cultural figure and philanthropist, Dr Gene Sherman AM, was chair of the Voiceless Council during its tenure from 2009 to mid-2015 and continues to be closely involved with Voiceless’s extended community of creative practitioners to this day.
She is Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas (SCCI), established in 2017 as a cultural-exchange platform on contemporary fashion and architecture. For 21 years (1986-2007), Dr Sherman was Director and Proprietor of Sherman Galleries, a commercial gallery with a focus on artists from Australia, the Asia Pacific and Middle East. From 2008-2017, Dr Sherman was Chair and Executive Director of the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, presenting 37 projects by significant visual practitioners across art, architecture, fashion, film and design from the Asia Pacific, Australia and Middle East.
She is Adjunct Professor, UNSW Art and Design, a Member of the Tate Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee (since 2009 and currently co-Chair since 2015), a Member of the Tate International Council (since 2017), and a Board Member of the Australian Institute of Art History (since 2009). Dr Sherman regularly lectures on Australian and Asian contemporary art, Australian and Asian private foundations, gallery management, the art of collecting, and architecture and fashion.
She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 in recognition of her cultural philanthropy and support of emerging and established artists. The French Government has honoured Dr Sherman with two prestigious awards in its Legion of Honour awards system: the Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2016), and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2003).