Trustees
Mr Darvell M. Hutchinson AM – Chairman of Trustees
Darvell’s initial career was a professional Chartered Accountant and Company Director. He is a former National Chairman and International Representative of PKF, Chartered Accountants, and held numerous public company directorships over the years including Bank of Melbourne Ltd, RESI-Statewide Building Society, Gerrard Company of Australasia Ltd, Luke Ltd, J C Williamson Ltd (Chairman), and John Foster Valley Ltd (Chairman).
Darvell was appointed a trustee of Helen Macpherson Smith Trust (then known as Helen M Schutt Trust) in 1964. He retired early as a partner of PKF in 1987 to give more time to the Trust and his former community involvements which included National Gallery of Victoria (Trustee and Treasurer), Vice-President of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Fund, President of Australian Association of Philanthropy (now Philanthropy Australia Inc), President of Asthma Foundation of Victoria, and Board Member of Art Foundation of Victoria, and Fairfield Hospital. His current community involvements are as a director of The Order of Australia Association Foundation, and the National Institute of Circus Arts.
In 1994, Darvell was honoured as Member of The Order of Australia for service to the community, and Monash University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa for his contribution to the Victorian community and “to Melbourne’s role as the major centre of philanthropy in Australia”.
Mr Keith B. Smith – Trustee
Keith Smith is a consultant working with non-profits and charities. He has assisted the boards, directors and senior managers of 60 national and international charities, primarily on governance, strategy, development, benchmarking and communications.
He started his working life as a teacher and mountain guide in Africa. After a period in educational publishing, he worked as a manager in community arts before becoming the Chief Executive of the charity Broadcasting Support Services. Broadcasting Support Services provides education and health publications and helplines for viewers and listeners of the BBC and other broadcasters.
He has served as a trustee of seven charities ranging from Oxfam to his village hall. His writing has covered charity law, management, marketing, and international comparisons. He has been a Research Associate with the Institute of Development Studies and is an Associate of the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at the Cass Business School, where his particular interest is international learning.
As well as working in Africa, Keith Smith has studied the not-for-profit sector in the USA and has spent time in Australia both as an observer of the sector and to visit the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, which was founded by his great aunt.
Keith Smith’s partner Barbara Frost is a trustee of WaterAid Australia, and an Australian citizen.
Mrs Frances H. Awcock AM – Trustee
Since retiring in 2002 as CEO and State Librarian of the State Library of Victoria, Fran has been a specialist Consultant on Library buildings and services, and also a licensed Civil Marriage Celebrant. She had a distinguished career in the library and publishing fields. Before becoming State Librarian for Victoria, she was Director of the State Library of South Australia, and Executive Director of the National Book Council. Her current community involvements include being a Member of the Council of RMIT University, and Chair of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. Previous community appointments included being a Council Member of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation, and the Victorian Council of the Arts.
Fran was honoured in 2004 as a Member of The Order of Australia for her contribution to libraries and the community.