Elizabeth Ho OAM describes herself as a music-driven human. Raised on a soundtrack of classical, jazz, and The Beatles—thanks to her talented pianist father—music has always been part of her life. Singing hymns at school sparked a lifelong love of vocal music. She is a regular donor to YAV, has a granddaughter in YAV 1CC, and sings in the YAV Community Choir. She regards working for the benefit of kids through YAV as an important mission.
Elizabeth has held senior leadership roles in government (Education and Arts) and universities, with deep experience in community engagement, cultural policy, marketing, governance, and public education. She recently completed nine years as Chair of the History Trust of South Australia and is currently Chair of the Migration Museum Foundation, Deputy Chair of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre, and a board member of the Festival of Ideas.
A Fellow of both UniSA and the Institute of Public Administration Australia, she previously led cultural heritage and public programs at the State Library of SA, and was Director of UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre (1999–2014). Honoured with an OAM in 2012 and listed on the SA Women’s Honour Roll, she is also co-author with Cheong Liew OAM on Australian–Asian food culture.
She loves good food and great music in equal measure. Her family, with five grandchildren, means the world to her.
