Qantas boss Alan Joyce joins Museum of Contemporary Art

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has joined the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

Alan Joyce, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor and Simon Mordant at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has joined the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, further cementing the bond between airline and gallery.

Mr Joyce is friendly with MCA director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor, who has also been a member of the Qantas Foundation board.

The gallery and airline are in partnership with Britain’s Tate Modern, jointly acquiring work by Australian artists for display in Sydney and London.

Mr Joyce was welcomed to the MCA board by its chairman and leading philanthropist Simon Mordant, who said the airline chief had been involved with the MCA for more than 10 years. A statement announcing his appointment noted that he had been a strong supporter of marriage equality, gender equality and indigenous reconcili­ation, with long-term interests in contemporary art.

The MCA is the only cultural role among Mr Joyce’s community and not-for-profit interests. “I’m honoured to be joining the MCA’s board, which is filled with talented and passionate people,” he said.

“I’ve had a long association with the MCA and I’m a big believer in the innovation that lies at the heart of contemporary art.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the rest of the board to strengthen the ­museum’s vision.”

The MCA also has appointed to the board indigenous education and art specialist Christine Evans, chief executive of Aboriginal Education at the NSW Education Standards Authority.