Rupert Myer

Rupert Hordern Myer AO (born 13 August 1958) is an Australian retailer and philanthropist and he is a member of the notable Melbourne retailing Myer family. His grandfather, Sidney Myer was the founder of Myer, the largest department store company in Australia. His father, Sidney Baillieu Myer was once Chairman of Myer Emporium Limited until 1986. Rupert has been on the Board of Myer since it was separated from Coles Myer Limited in 2006 and is currently a Deputy Chairman. He also serves as a Director on the Boards of Amcil (ASX: AMH), Ecargo (ASX: ECG) and Healthscope (ASX: HSO). According to BRW, in 2014, the Myer family is the sixth wealthiest family in Australia with a net worth of more than $2 billion in properties and a diversified investment portfolio. The largest investment portfolio is managed by The Myer Family Company where Rupert was Chairman until 2012.

Rupert holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rupert is the Chair of The Australia Council for the Arts. He serves as a member of the Felton Bequests’ Committee and as a board member of Jawun – Indigenous Corporate Partnerships, Creative Partnerships Australia, The Myer Foundation, The Australian International Cultural Foundation and The University of Melbourne Faculty of Business and Economics Advisory Board. He is also an Emeritus Trustee of The National Gallery of Victoria.

Rupert chaired the Australian Government’s Inquiry into the Contemporary Visual Arts and Crafts Sector which completed its report in 2002.

His previous roles in the arts include serving as Chairman of the National Gallery of Australia, Opera Australia Capital Fund, Kaldor Public Art Projects and National Gallery of Victoria Foundation and as a Trustee, National Gallery of Victoria, a Board Member, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, a Member of the Advisory Board, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, a Member, National Council & Melbourne Committee, The Australian Opera (now Opera Australia), and as a Council Member, Australian Association of Philanthropy (now Philanthropy Australia).

Rupert became a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2005 for service to the arts, for support of museums, galleries, and the community through a range of philanthropic and service organisations. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.