Australian of the Year Awards 2024: News Corp executive Penny Fowler appointed an AM

News Corp executive Penny Fowler has paid tribute to the women in her family after she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

News Corp’s Penny Fowler has many community roles including as chair on the board of Melbourne’s historic Royal Botanic Gardens. Picture: David Caird

News Corp executive Penny Fowler has paid tribute to her family’s strong female models after she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.

The company’s Community Ambassador was honoured for her work with artistic and charitable organisations in today’s Australia Day honours.

Mrs Fowler said her lifelong desire “to make a difference” was inspired by the women in her own family.

“I’m a mother of five and I have great role models like my mother (Janet Calvert-Jones) and my grandmother (the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch),’’ Mrs Fowler said.

Mrs Fowler became chairman of the Herald & Weekly Times in 2013, and at the same time, was made Chairman of the Good Friday Appeal which has raised more than $444m for Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital since its inception in 1931.

News Corp executive Penny Fowler has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Picture: David Caird

“I want to thank my uncle, Rupert Murdoch, for giving me the opportunity to chair the Herald & Weekly Times and the Good Friday Appeal. And from that, I have been given opportunities to be involved with other organisations.

“I am very passionate about everything I do including the Good Friday Appeal.”

Mrs Fowler is also celebrating the 10th year of running News Corp Australia’s News in the Community, which aims to build stronger communities.

But her work extends to a range of other significant organisations including chairing the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and, last October, she was elevated to chair the board of Melbourne’s historic Royal Botanic Gardens.

Former GM of the Geelong Advertiser and editor-in-chief of Leader Newspapers Wayne Buttner has been awarded an OAM. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Mrs Fowler said she was delighted to see tennis legend Novak Djokovic reveal last week that he went to the gardens for solace with a particular fig tree.

“To have Djokovic come there and he’s actually finding something from within the gardens was great,’’ she said.

She has relished the variety of her roles, including being on the board of the Australian Ballet for 10 years, and has sat on the Tourism Australia board since 2019, and served as an advisory board member for Visy since 2016.

“I feel very humbled that I’ll be recognised for that community work,’’ she said.

Mrs Fowler also revealed a two-word piece of advice which has helped guide her career.

“Be yourself,” she said.

The awards also honoured Wayne Buttner, OAM, the former general manager of the Geelong Advertiser and editor-in-chief at Leader Newspapers.