After an executive hunt lasting several months, the board last week signed off on the appointment of Shona Martin as the new CEO last week.

Shona is currently the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald‘s arts supplement, Spectrum, and was the founding editor of HQ magazine, a former editor of Good Weekend and a one-time New Zealand Journalist of the Year.

In addition, she has been a senior book publishing executive, spending 17 years as the publishing director of HarperCollins, and she says, “I am excited to be joining the Walkley Foundation. It’s an organisation that is rightfully much admired for its promotion of excellence in Australian journalism, particularly through the Walkley Awards and via its impressive training programs. It will be a privilege to lead the foundation in what is, without doubt, a time of flux and challenge for the media. I am committed to upholding its core values of integrity and independence.”

Shona will replace Louisa Graham who became CEO in 2017, and is leaving at the end of this month, after 10 years total service at the Foundation, and says, “It has been an honour to work with the staff and directors of the Walkley Foundation and serve the Australian media. Shona is an exceptional appointment who will no doubt provide strong leadership for the Foundation in its next stage of development.”

We are thrilled to announce Shona Martyn as the Walkley Foundation’s new CEO. With more than 20+ media/publishing experience, including her current role as SMH Spectrum editor, @shonamartyn will join us early next year after @louisasays steps down. pic.twitter.com/Wbifsxw7v6

— Walkley Foundation (@walkleys) November 10, 2021

The 66th Walkley Awards have been delayed because of Covid and will be held in Tamworth on February 11, following the Walkley Regional Media Summit on February 10.