Ita Buttrose is poised to become the next chair of the ABC, ending a tumultuous search for the public broadcaster’s next leader following the acrimonious departure of Justin Milne and managing director Michelle Guthrie nearly six months ago.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield will take Ms Buttrose’s nomination to cabinet this week, despite her name not being included in a shortlist compiled by an independent panel following an extensive search by global recruitment firm Korn Ferry.

Media icon Ita Buttrose is firming as the new ABC chair. Credit:Stefan Postles

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal the final names provided by the panel for the prestigious position were all men: former Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood, former News Corp chief executive Kim Williams, Film Victoria president Ian Robertson, and Gilbert + Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert.

If cabinet approves Ms Buttrose’s appointment, she would be only the second woman to take the top job at the public broadcaster after Dame Leonie Kramer in the early 1980s.