Charles Sturt University in conjunction with the Australian Museum invites you to a special cocktail evening. The University is hosting this event in partnership with the Australian Museum which is about to host a very special world class exhibition on Alexander the Great.

Enjoy delicious canapes and award winning CSU wine while you hear from the terrific speakers, Mr Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO of Australian News Channel (Sky), who will share his story and experiences, Mr Frank Howarth, Australian Museum's Director, will provide some interesting insights into life at the Museum and finally the Exhibition Project Manager for Alexander the Great, Ms Liz Cowell, will share information on the Alexander exhibit.

Australian Museum
6 College Street,
The Terrace (Level 4)
Sydney NSW 2000

6.00pm - 8.00pm

Finger food and drinks provided

UPDATE:

Tour of exhibition, meet at William St enterance from 5.15pm

Confirmed Speakers;

Mr Angelos Frangopoulos
Position: CEO, Australian News Channel (Sky)
Alumnus of the CSU Class of 1988
Member of the CSU University Council
Deputy Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
Member, Succession Planning Committee

Profile

As CEO at Australian News Channel (ANC) Pty Ltd, Mr Frangopoulos oversees the news services of Sky News Australia, Sky News New Zealand, Sky News Business Channel and Sky News Now Mobile services.  Sky News provides 24-hour news across Australia and New Zealand.  Working in media for 27 years, he began his career in regional television followed by positions as Chief of Staff at Prime, Canberra, Senior Producer at BSkyB, London and Chief of Production at Sky News Australia.
Mr Frangopoulos is an active alumnus of CSU and has served on the Charles Sturt University Council since 2005.  He is also a Board Member of Australian Subscription Television Association, The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and is Chair of the Australia Day Council of NSW.
Join us to listen to Angelos as he shares his CSU story, tells us about his life and career and provides a toast to CSU.

Mr Frank Howarth
Position: Director, Australian Museum

Profile

Director, Frank Howarth is passionate about the Museum's scientific and anthropological collections, and their potential to inspire us to conserve and explore the natural and cultural world.

A geologist by training, Frank also has a Masters Degree from the University of NSW focusing on science and biotechnology policy. While generally interested in policy, Frank has a particular interest and expertise in science policy and the management of science based programs, organizational culture change, communication and team building. Appropriate conservation and management of the built landscape, and its interface with more natural landscapes, is a strong personal interest.
Frank is the former Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. He has also held positions with the Department of Industrial Development and Decentralisation, NSW Science and Technology Council, the Public Service Board, and the Roads and Traffic Authority. He took up his current role as Director of the Australian Museum in February 2004.

Since becoming Director, Frank has pursued a number of projects including a major capital works program on the College Street site, the creation of the Australian Museum Foundation to raise funds for the organization, and a commitment to databasing the Museum's collections and sharing that information with the public. He is keen to ensure that the Museum continues to be influential in biodiversity conservation science and policy, particularly through international collaboration. Resolving options for the continued physical development of Museum, the development of new Pacific and Indigenous exhibitions, and finding new ways to engage with Pacific and Aboriginal communities are other priorities.

Mr Howarth will welcome alumni to the Australia Museum.

Ms Liz Cowell
Position: Exhibition Project Manager, Australian Museum

Profile

Ms Cowell has been with the Australian Museum since 1991 and is curator for the Alexander the Great Exhibit currently showing at the Museum. Liz will give a short talk about the exhibition at our alumni event. Below Liz provides a glimpse of the blockbuster Alexander the Great: 2000 years of treasures exhibition.

Alexander and Achilles

Gorytos (bow case) © The State Hermitage, St Petersburg.

When asked to choose just one object to write about from the upcoming exhibition Alexander the Great, my eye fell on this exquisite piece which highlights a fascinating civilisation and some superb craftsmanship.

Gorytos

This gold overlay is part of a gorytos (a case for a bow and arrows) of the type used by the Persians and Scythians. They favoured a small, recurved type of bow which was housed within a leather case with a metal plate, such as this, attached outside for decoration. The gorytos was slung over the back when a soldier was on the march or using a weapon other than his bow. When shooting, however, it would be slung at the side of the body to allow the archer to draw the arrows over his shoulder with one hand while holding the bow in the other.
It is thought this work was created by a Greek artist and it shows scenes from the life of Achilles. Alexander revered Achilles and considered himself to be in many respects Achilles reborn. He even slept with a copy of Homer’s Iliad under his pillow.

Achilles

The story goes that Achilles’ mother, Thetis, received a prophecy that Troy would not fall unless Achilles died during the war to secure its capture. To protect her son, and Troy, Thetis sent Achilles to hide, disguised as a girl, in the palace of Lycomedes, King of Scyros. Achilles was eventually discovered by the Greek heroes Odysseus, Nestor and Ajax and persuaded to join the Greek forces. At the beginning of Alexander’s invasion of the Persian Empire he stopped at Troy to pay homage at the tomb of Achilles.

The gorytos is more than simply a beautiful, decorated artefact of ancient warfare, for it reveals a precious insight into the character of one of the greatest military leaders the world has ever known. You’ll be able to see this piece along with many others at the exhibition Alexander the Great: 2000 years of treasures.

Find out more about the Alexander the Great Exhibition at www.alexandersydney.com.au.

Register now so you don't miss this great networking opportunity.

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