ABC presenter Dan Bourchier joins board of Dart Centre Asia Pacific

ABC

• DCAP focuses on journalism and trauma in the media industry

ABC presenter Dan Bourchier is joining the board of Dart Centre Asia Pacific.

DCAP, which made the announcement, focuses on journalism and trauma in the media industry, promoting trauma-informed best practices for media practitioners and the subjects of their stories.

Bourchier is the ABC’s nightly news presenter in Canberra and appears regularly on ABC radio and TV across the country. An award-winning multi-platform broadcaster, he has 20 years’ experience as a reporter working in Australia and around the world.

The award winning journalist is an accomplished board director, serving as a non-executive director at the University of Canberra and BlakDance.

DCAP chair Karen Percy said: “Dan brings so much to the DCAP board. His life experience, his understanding of the media and his decency and humanity are a unique combination.”

Percy noted DCAP is at an important stage, after founding managing director Cait McMahon OAM, retired last year after 18 years.

“Dan has got great skills and experience in governance. These attributes will greatly assist the board and our organisation as we navigate the increasingly complex needs of the media industry across the region,” she added.

Bourchier’s work as a company director to date has been underpinned by cultural and ethical governance, strategy development and delivery, and strategic and crisis communications.

He is deputy chair of the ABC’s Bonner Committee, the national broadcaster’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, among others.

Bourchier said: “I’m really thrilled to be joining the board of the Dart Centre Asia Pacific – and being part of the team to lead the next phase of the organisation’s important work of helping to build and strengthen resilience in those reporting on trauma.”

“I’ve been a journalist for more than 20 years and have reported and covered very challenging and difficult situations – I see open discussions about trauma and resilience as crucial.

“I’m pleased to bring my governance and leadership skills, grounded in cultural governance, with a focus on strategy and strategic planning, risk management and communications – and I’m looking forward to joining the board under the strong leadership of respected journalist, chair Karen Percy. There is much work to do, and I’m honoured to be joining the team,” the ABC presenter added.

Bourchier is respected for bringing deep and unflinching knowledge of First Nations cultural governance and leadership.

DCAP CEO Erin Smith said: “Dan is driven by sharing important stories in a trauma-informed way, which makes him an invaluable new member of the Dart Centre Asia Pacific team.”

DCAP was founded by Cait McMahon OAM in 2003 and is a hub of the Dart Centre US, based at Columbia University in New York, USA. Dr McMahon retired last year but remains a board director. The other directors are Rachael Hocking, Tony Gillies and Kamal Farouque.

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