Naomi Milgrom

Milgrom was born in Melbourne, one of four children born to art collectors and retailing magnates Marc and Eva Besen. Her maternal grandmother Fay Gandel, a Polish seamstress opened a small lingerie store in 1939.{{Cite web |date=2003-11-11 |title=Sussan heiress takes control |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/sussan-heiress-takes-control-20031111-gdwpse.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Age |language=en}} Her father, a Jewish refugee from Romania, arrived in Australia in 1947 at the age of 23.{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-citys-celebration-of-lives-less-ordinary-naomi-milgrom-and-mpavilion-20141203-11zh3s.html|title=A city's celebration of lives less ordinary, Naomi Milgrom and MPavilion|newspaper=The Age|first=Lisa|last=Clausen|date=17 December 2014|access-date=29 August 2020}} She is the niece of billionaire property developer John Gandel.{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com.au/success/finance/these-are-the-10-richest-people-in-australia/image-gallery/23182237ec846cd955bbe8d5b404833b|title=These are the 10 richest people in Australia for 2019|date=18 January 2019|access-date=29 August 2020|publisher=GQ}}

Milgrom grew up in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. She attended Mount Scopus Memorial College and Firbank Girls' Grammar School.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/rag-trade-riches-20060518-kaba3|title=Rag-trade riches|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review|date=18 May 2006|access-date=29 August 2020|first=Jacqui|last=Walker}} She later studied languages at Monash University and completed a Diploma of Education at the University of New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.monash.edu/alumni/news/events/graduation/speaker-profiles/naomi-milgrom-ao|title=Naomi Milgrom AO|website=Monash University|language=en|access-date=2018-06-17}}

She worked for four years as a special education teacher in Sydney, helping autistic and schizophrenic children.{{Cite web |last=Guest |first=Forbes |title=Asia's Power Businesswomen, 2014: Naomi Milgrom Is All About the Logo |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2014/02/26/asias-power-businesswomen-2014-naomi-milgrom-is-all-about-the-logo/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}} She then worked in publishing and advertising.

In 1977, Milgrom and her first husband Alfred Milgrom established Melbourne House (Publishers) Ltd, a publishing company with offices in Melbourne and London.{{cite news|url=http://www.ourdigitalheritage.org/archive/playitagain/companies/melbourne-house/|title=Melbourne House|publisher=Our Digital Heritage|access-date=29 August 2020}} They published a series of books on computers and in 1980 co-founded video game studio BEAM Software (later Krome Studios Melbourne).{{cite magazine |title=NG Alphas: Melbourne House |magazine=Next Generation|issue=33 |date=September 1997|pages=116–8 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_33/page/n117}}{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/03/hobbit.htm|title=CRASH 3 - Melbourne House|website=www.crashonline.org.uk|access-date=19 April 2018}}

Milgrom joined the family business Sussan in 1988 as marketing and strategic planning manager, after her father bought out his brother-in-law John Gandel. She was appointed merchandise director the following year and, in 1990, became chief executive. Milgrom spearheaded the acquisition of Suzanne Grae in 1991{{Cite web |date=1994-04-18 |title=MR SUSSAN KEEPS ON ADDING THIS TO THAT |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/mr-sussan-keeps-on-adding-this-to-that-19940418-kat0h |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}} and the acquisition of Sportsgirl in 1999. In 2003, Milgrom bought her parents and three siblings out of the business and assumed full ownership of all three brands.{{Cite web |date=2003-11-11 |title=Sussan heiress takes control |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/sussan-heiress-takes-control-20031111-gdwpse.html |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=The Age |language=en}}

Milgrom has three children from her first marriage to Alfred Milgrom. {{As of|2014}} she lived in the Melbourne suburb of Middle Park. It was reported that Milgrom owns properties in {{NSWcity|Bondi Beach}} and Byron Bay.{{cite news|url=https://www.realestate.com.au/news/naomi-milgrom-buys-again-in-byron-bay/|title=Naomi Milgrom buys again in Byron Bay|publisher=RealEstate.com.au|first=Jonathan|last=Chancellor|date=24 June 2017|access-date=29 August 2020}}

In 2018, according to the UK Financial Times, Milgrom was the eighth-richest woman in Australia, with an estimated net worth of over {{AUD}}500 million. {{as of|2023|05}}, The Australian Financial Review assessed her net worth as {{AUD}}1.15 billion in the 2023 Rich List.

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Milgrom is an active benefactor{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Philanthropy 50: Which Australians gave away the most in 2023? |url=https://www.afr.com/wealth/people/philanthropy-50-which-australians-gave-away-the-most-in-2023-20240308-p5favg |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}} and participant in arts projects and events.{{Cite news |last=Roux |first=Caroline |date=2018-06-08 |title=Collector Naomi Milgrom on her hands-on approach to philanthrophy |url=https://www.ft.com/content/10bebd1e-64f2-11e8-bdd1-cc0534df682c |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=Financial Times}} In 2014 she established the Naomi Milgrom Foundation{{Cite web |title=Naomi Milgrom Foundation |url=https://www.naomimilgromfoundation.org/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Naomi Milgrom Foundation |language=en-US}} to fund public art, design and architecture projects. The same year, the foundation provided the funding for a series of outdoor pavilions (known as MPavilions) to be built in Queen Victoria Gardens, Melbourne. Since 2014, the Naomi Milgrom Foundation has invited international architects to design an MPavilion each year. Architects have included Sean Godsell (2014), Amanda Levete (2016), Bijoy Jain (2017), Glenn Murcutt (2019) and Tadao Andao (2023). Tadao Ando’s MPavilion will remain in Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens until June 2025, after City of Melbourne approved a request from the Naomi Milgrom Foundation to extend the temporary structure.{{Cite web |last=Cheng |first=Linda |date=10 April 2024 |title=Tadao Ando's MPavilion set to remain until 2025 |url=https://architectureau.com/articles/tadao-andos-mpavilion-set-to-be-remain-till-2025/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=ArchitectureAU |publisher=Architecture Media}}

MPavilion has received the Australian Institute of Architects Presidents’ Prize{{Cite web |date=2024-05-15 |title=Naomi Milgrom AC awarded AIA National President's Prize - MPavilion |url=https://mpavilion.org/naomi-milgrom-awarded-aia-national-presidents-prize/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=mpavilion.org |language=en-US}} (2015), the Melbourne Award{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=Awards - MPavilion |url=https://mpavilion.org/awards/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=mpavilion.org |language=en-US}} (2016), Victorian Architecture Awards (2015), (2016), (2017); National Trust Heritage Awards (2017) and the Good Design Award{{Cite web |title=MPavilion 2022 |url=https://good-design.org/projects/mpavilion-2022/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Good Design |language=en-AU}} (2018). In 2024, Milgrom received the Australian Institute of Architects’ National President’s Prize{{Cite web |title=National President's Prize |url=https://www.architecture.com.au/prizes/national-presidents-prize |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Australian Institute of Architects |language=en-AU}} for her contributions to architecture through the Pavilion project.

Milgrom's other philanthropic projects cover entrepreneurship, contemporary art, music, dance, fashion, culture, science, education, women's health and the Jewish community. Major cultural projects instigated by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation include the Living Cities Forum,{{Cite web |title=Living Cities Forum |url=https://www.livingcitiesforum.org/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Living Cities Forum |language=en-AU}} Patricia Piccinini ‘Sky Whales’,{{Cite web |title=Skywhales: Every heart sings |url=https://nga.gov.au/on-demand/skywhales-every-heart-sings/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=National Gallery of Australia |language=en}} 2020-2021; Photo 2021,{{Cite web |title=PHOTO 2021 |url=https://photo.org.au/past-festivals/photo-2021/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=PHOTO 2024 |language=en-AU}} Photo 2024;{{Cite web |title=PHOTO 2024 |url=https://photo.org.au/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=PHOTO 2024 |language=en-AU}} and William Kentridge projects I am not me, the Horse is not mine (2018–2019) and That Which We Do Not Remember (2019).{{Cite web |title=William Kentridge: That which we do not remember, Art Gallery of New South Wales (2018-2019) |url=https://www.naomimilgromfoundation.org/projects/william-kentridge-that-which-we-do-not-remember-art-gallery-of-new-south-wales-2018-2019 |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Naomi Milgrom Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Roux |first=Caroline |date=2018-06-08 |title=Collector Naomi Milgrom on her hands-on approach to philanthropy |url=https://www.ft.com/content/10bebd1e-64f2-11e8-bdd1-cc0534df682c |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=Financial Times}} In 2017, Milgrom announced plans to redevelop parts of Cremorne, Melbourne to create a precinct to support Melbourne’s technology, media and creative industries.{{Cite web |last=Review |first=Arts |date=2022-02-14 |title=Elaine Chia to lead the establishment of a new cultural precinct project in Melbourne |url=https://artsreview.com.au/elaine-chia-to-lead-the-establishment-of-a-new-cultural-precinct-project-in-melbourne/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Australian Arts Review |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Blacker |first=Amy |date=2022-08-15 |title=Business leader, Naomi Milgrom AC gifts Cremorne building to White Box and ASA |url=https://whiteboxenterprises.com.au/business-leader-naomi-milgrom-ac-gifts-cremorne-building-to-white-box-and-asa/ |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=White Box Enterprises |language=en-AU}}

Milgrom has been Chair of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Chair of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, Director of the Magellan Financial Group and a board member of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. She has also held the position of board member of the Melbourne Business School and served as Commissioner for the Australian representation at the 57th International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale 2017 and Jury Chair of the international design competition for the Powerhouse Precinct in Parramatta.{{cite web |title=Naomi Milgrom to chair Powerhouse Precinct design competition jury |url=https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/people/naomi-milgrom-to-chair-powerhouse-precinct-design |website=Architecture & Design |access-date=21 August 2024}} Other roles Milgrom has held include Board member, Agenda Victoria; National Councillor, Australian Retailers Association; Advisory Council Member, Centre for Social Impact; Inaugural board member, Family Business Council;{{Cite web |date=1996-10-18 |title=Council aiming for peace of mind for all the family |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/council-aiming-for-peace-of-mind-for-all-the-family-19961018-k75ri |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}} Trustee, the Jewish Museum of Australia; Chair, The Katherine Hannay Visual Arts Commission{{cite web |title=Naomi Milgrom AO appointed Commissioner for Australia, Venice Biennale 2017 |url=https://creative.gov.au/news/media-releases/naomi-milgrom-ao-appointed-commissioner-for-australia-venice-biennale-2017/ |website=Creative Australia |date=2017 |access-date=20 August 2024}} for ANZ Trustees; Trustee,{{Cite web |last=Gill |first=Raymond |date=2011-10-10 |title=Fresh face to usher in new era for NGV |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/fresh-face-to-usher-in-new-era-for-ngv-20111010-1lhk7.html |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} National Gallery of Victoria; and the Premier of Victoria’s Bushfire Reconstruction Industry Champions Committee. Milgrom is a member of the Art Basel Global Patrons Council, Tate Museum London's International Council{{Cite web |last=Article |first=Lee Carter ShareShare This |date=2024-01-22 |title=Australian Collector Naomi Milgrom on Her Fascination With Pavilions |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/naomi-milgrom-art-collector-australia-2421402 |access-date=20 August 2024 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}} and has been a judge for the World Architecture Awards.

In 2001, Milgrom was awarded the Centenary Medal for outstanding service to the Melbourne Fashion Festival and the fashion industry.{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1125551 |date=1 January 2001 |recipient=Ms Naomi MILGROM |award=Centenary Medal |postnominal= |citation=For outstanding service to the Melbourne Fashion Festival and the fashion industry|postscript= |access-date=16 November 2020 }} In 2010, Milgrom was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to business as a leader and mentor in the fashion industry, and to the community through advisory and management roles of a wide range of arts, health and philanthropic bodies;{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=1141704 |date=26 January 2010 |recipient=Ms Naomi MILGROM |award=Officer of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AO |citation=For service to business as a leader and mentor in the fashion industry, and to the community through advisory and management roles of a wide range of arts, health and philanthropic bodies.|postscript= |access-date=16 November 2020 }} and in 2020, Milgrom was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to the community through philanthropic leadership and support for the promotion of the arts, architecture, design excellence and cultural exchange, and to business.{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=2006843 |date=7 June 2020 |recipient=Ms Naomi MILGROM AO |award=Companion of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AC |citation=For eminent service to the community through philanthropic leadership and support for the promotion of the arts, architecture, design excellence and cultural exchange, and to business.|postscript= |access-date=16 November 2020 }}

In 2015, she was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects President's Prize for her establishment of the MPavilion project in Melbourne. Milgrom also received an Honorary Doctorate of Business from RMIT University (2010), a Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award from Monash University (2010), and the Creative Partnerships Australia Philanthropy Leadership Award (2016). In 2016, she was also inducted into the Australian Retailers Association's Australian Retail Awards Hall of Fame, and in 2017, she received the Melbourne Achiever Award.

In 2018, she was honored with the Ethical Leadership Award by the John Monash Foundation. Milgrom also received the Melbourne Design Week Award (2020) and was recognised as an Honorary Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia in the same year. In 2024, she was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects' President's Prize.

Milgrom has also received the Sir John Monash Award for Outstanding Achievement (2008), an Honorary Doctorate of Business from RMIT University (2010), a Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award from Monash University (2010), Creative Partnerships Australia Philanthropy Leadership Award (2016_ and an Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of New South Wales (2016).

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Category:Australian women in business

Category:Living people

Category:Companions of the Order of Australia

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:Monash University alumni

Category:University of New South Wales alumni

Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne

Category:Australian businesspeople in retailing

Category:Australian people of Romanian-Jewish descent

Category:Australian people of Polish-Jewish descent

Category:Australian women philanthropists

Category:People from St Kilda, Victoria

Category:People educated at Firbank Girls' Grammar School

Category:Philanthropists from Melbourne

Category:Australian billionaires

Category:Female billionaires

Category:1952 births