ABC board welcomes board members as Communications Minister Paul Fletcher fills three empty positions

The new appointees are Mario D'Orazio, Peter Tonagh and Fiona Balfour who join the ABC board as non-executive directors with five-year appointments beginning immediately.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher named the three replacement directors following vacancies since November last year and complaints from ABC chair Ita Buttrose the board's ability to function was threatened by the empty positions.

The new appointees join directors Peter Lewis, Georgie Somerset, Joseph Gersh, and staff-elected director Jane Connors.

They replace Kirstin Ferguson and Donny Walford, whose terms ended last year, and Vanessa Guthrie who resigned in the middle of her term this year.

The board meets six times a year, with non-executive directors collecting $58,670 a year following a merit-based process for selection implemented by Labor in 2013 that requires both relevant experience and geographic representation across the states and territories.

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The current panel who selects the candidates for the government's approval include Sally Pitkin, former senior public servant Helen Williams, and journalist Mark Kenny.

Mr Fletcher congratulated the three new directors, and noted each had extensive experience in Australian media or communications technology sectors.

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