/Sydney_Opera_House/Our_People/Louise Herron98x125.jpg "Louise Herron AM")
LOUISE HERRON AM
Chief Executive Officer
Commenced in August 2012
In mid-2012 Louise Herron was appointed Sydney Opera House’s seventh CEO and is the first woman to hold the position.
Trained as a lawyer and corporate advisor, Louise has held senior roles in law, business and the arts. She chaired Belvoir Street Theatre from 2002 to 2012, leading the company through a period of unprecedented change. This included a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign to upgrade the theatre and buy and renovate new headquarters, together with overseeing a successful transition in terms of Belvoir’s artistic and management positions. Louise retired from Belvoir to chair the Australian Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council (MPAB), which administers government funding of the country’s flagship state and federal theatre, dance and opera companies, a position she left to take up the Opera House appointment.
From 2000 onwards, Louise worked as a corporate advisor in investment banking and private equity at Investec and Carnegie Wylie before co-founding the boutique firm, Ironbark Corporate Advisory, in 2007. For the previous ten years, Louise was a partner of Minter Ellison lawyers, specialising in technology and communications.
In January this year Louise was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the performing arts through leadership and advisory roles. She is also a Trustee of Sydney Grammar School.
Educated in Australia and Europe, Louise has a deep love of music and languages and is fluent in French, German and Italian. She is married and has two sons.
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JONATHAN BIELSKI
Executive Producer, SOH Presents
Commenced in role October 2010
Role: Jonathan is responsible for the artistic strategy and programming of SOH’s own creative and entrepreneurial activities
Background: Jonathan has been with Sydney Opera House since 2002 in programming and administration roles with a particular focus on commercial producing, culminating in appointment as Executive Producer in 2010. Prior to joining Sydney Opera House, Jonathan was the Group Operations Manager for The Edge in Auckland for four years and before that with Village Force working at venues including the St James Theatre. He is a member of the Australian and Asia-Pacific Arts Centre’s Programming Groups, the Live Performance Australia Venue Infrastructure Taskforce, the Venue Managers Association and a past member of the Helpmann Awards Theatre Nominating Panel.
/Sydney_Opera_House/Our_People/David Clarinbold_001(1).JPG "David Claringbold")
DAVID CLARINGBOLD
Director, Theatre and Events
Commenced in role March 2012
Role: David is responsible for venue and event sales, technical, recording and broadcast, production management, stage management and safety aspects of event delivery at the house.
Background: David started his career as a freelance music producer and engineer where he worked with artists including The Triffids as well as touring with his own band Red Ochre. After 10 years of freelancing, he joined the Sydney Opera House in 1994 as Technical Operations Manager, Sound AV. During his time at the House, David was responsible for implementing major digital audio and video infrastructure changes to all Sydney Opera House facilities. In 2005, he was appointed to the audio company Euphonix as European Sales Manager where he was responsible for all sales in continental Europe. David returned to Sydney Opera House as Technical Director in 2006, then General Manager, Theatre and Events before been appointed to the Executive in the new role of Director, Theatre and Events in 2012.
VICTORIA DOIDGE
Director, Marketing, Communications and Customer Services
Appointed in February 2008
Role: Victoria's portfolio includes customer service, digital, marketing, communications and ticketing services.
Qualifications: B.BUS, MKTG
Background: Victoria most recently held the position of Chief Marketing Officer for leading global digital marketing services provider, BlueFreeway. Prior to her role at BlueFreeway, she held the position as Director Market Development for the Sydney Symphony, a presenting partner of Sydney Opera House. Victoria was a co-founder and director of Australia’s first online music destination, ChaosMusic, launched in 1998 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 1999. Victoria has also held marketing and sales roles for OzEmail, Radio 2SM and News Limited.
Other Directorships: Australian Marketing Institute (Senior Member).
GREG MCTAGGART
Director, Building Development and Maintenance
Appointed in April 2008 – member of Building Committee and Conservation Council
Role: Greg is responsible for maintenance and conservation of the building, major building projects and emergency planning and response.
Qualifications: BE(Hons 1), MEngSc, Grad Dip Mgt, MIEAust, CPEng
Background: Greg joined Sydney Opera House in 2003 and was previously the Project Director of the Building Development Group responsible for the planning and delivery of all major building projects at Sydney Opera House. Greg has been involved in the delivery of public infrastructure and building projects for over 35 years. He has worked on a diverse range of projects including schools and hospitals, water supply and sewerage infrastructure, grain handling facilities and the major sporting venues of ANZ Stadium, Sydney Athletic & Aquatic Centres and the Regatta Centre at Penrith Lakes. Greg was also involved in the planning, construction and operational activities associated with the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
CLAIRE SPENCER
Chief Financial Officer
Commenced in role October 2010
Role: Claire is responsible for financial services, information systems, payroll and procurement.
Qualifications: BA Hons (Cantab), ACA (ICAEW)
Background: Claire joined Sydney Opera House in January 2003. During her 8 years at the Sydney Opera House Claire has undertaken a number of project management roles from the Opera Theatre Renewal Business Case preparation to the selection and implementation of Tessitura in 2005. As Chief Information Officer (2006-2008) Claire directed the stabilisation of all core systems and a refresh of critical system and network infrastructure and the relaunch of sydneyoperahouse.com as an e-commerce focused website in 2007. As Financial Controller, Claire directed the move to a three day month end close, a refreshed suite of management reports and an improved focus in planning and forecasting. Previously Claire has worked at Ernst and Young (London) and Cable and Wireless (London and Sydney).
Other Directorships: Tessitura Network Board (Member)