Executive Team
The Sydney Opera House Executive Team works in partnership with the Trust and is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the organisational strategy. The Executive Team comprises portfolio directors working to the Chief Executive Officer.
Qualifications: BA, LLB (Sydney University), LLM (London University), GAICD
Louise has been CEO of the Sydney Opera House since 2012, after careers as a lawyer and corporate adviser. In her time as CEO, Louise has delivered a far-reaching Decade of Renewal to open the Opera House up to more of the community, with a broader, more diverse range of programming and other experiences to welcome more visitors in person and online.
Renewal included the largest and most transformative series of building works since the Opera House opened in 1973. The program, totalling more than $300 million, has touched all corners of the building and opened new spaces to the public – from the removal of vehicles on the Forecourt to the new Centre for Creativity and refurbishing the Concert Hall, as well as significant improvements for visitors with limited mobility.
The Opera House also recently completed its year-long 50th anniversary celebrations, involving a program of more than 230 special performances and activities for the whole community to celebrate the past, present and future of Australia’s favourite building. The 50th has been a launching pad for the Opera House’s ambition to be Everyone’s House.
Qualifications: BA (University of Queensland)
Fiona has had a diverse career in independent and commercial performing arts across contemporary performance, theatre, dance and festivals. She was Sydney Festival Head of Programming from 2012 to 2017, presenting works by inspirational Australian and international artists in venues across the city. Previously, Fiona worked as a dramaturge and producer in contemporary arts, curating the Australian Theatre Forum in 2011 and co-convening the Bundanon Trust’s annual Siteworks event in 2010-11. From 1999 to 2008, Fiona was Director of Performance Space, a national contemporary arts hub based in Sydney. In this role, she collaborated with artists and communities to conceive and produce events in theatres, galleries and public spaces, as well as developing a range of festival, training and residency programs. She was instrumental in the development of Carriageworks, collaborating with the arts sector, Arts NSW and architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. Fiona was also a lecturer and co-designer of NIDA’s Master of Fine Arts (Cultural Leadership) course.
Qualifications: BA Hons (University of Cardiff)
Hannah joined the Sydney Opera House in 2021 as the Project Lead for its 50th anniversary, and in 2022 was appointed Director, Production & Events. Her portfolio includes Venue & Event Sales, Production Services, Event Operations & Planning and Recording & Broadcast.
Hannah has more than 25 years’ experience across the arts, talent management, digital marketing, and production and stage management fields. From 2015 to 2021, she was General Manager at Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (an Opera House resident company) and her earlier roles have included Group General Manager at talent management company, Artist & Entertainment Group, General Manager at web and digital marketing agency, The Web Showroom. Prior to emigrating to Australia, Hannah spent 10 years working in stage and technical production management roles in the UK, including London’s West End.
Hannah was a non-executive director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs from 2011 to 2015 and a member of the Create NSW Artform Advisory board for Classical Music, Opera and Choral until 2022. She is currently a non-executive director of Ensemble Offspring, Australia’s leading New Music group.
Qualifications: BSc (University of Sydney), BComm (Macquarie University), Post Graduate Certificate, Business Practice (Kingston University, London)
Jade was appointed Chief Customer Officer in January 2022 to drive exceptional end-to-end customer experience and strategy spanning all customer touchpoints. As Chief Customer Officer, Jade is responsible for tour operations, ticketing, visitor services, access, retail and the Opera House’s award-winning bars and restaurants. She also leads marketing and communications for Australia’s most valuable brand.
Jade joined the Opera House in 2013 and has held several senior positions including General Manager, Tours and Retail, and Director, Visitor Experience. Previously, her 20-year career in tourism, attraction management and customer experience included roles as the General Manager, Sydney Aquarium and General Manager, Sydney Tower, before being appointed Head of Sydney Attractions for Merlin Entertainments Group where her responsibility broadened to include the management of six attractions drawing more than 2.5 million paid visitors annually.
Since 2014, Jade has served as a councillor on the Tourism Industry Council, is a founding member of the Sydney Visitor Collective, a member of the 24 Hour Economy Advisory Group (including Chair of the subgroup Consumer Habits and Audience Demands). In 2023, Jade was appointed to the inaugural Steering Committee for the World Class Public Service Disability Review.
Qualifications: BA (University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne), DELF (École Suisse International Paris)
After joining the Opera House in 2015, Jess worked in several senior communications roles before being appointed Acting Director, Engagement in June 2020, overseeing the marketing, communications and strategic events teams during a time of significant challenge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a newly created role, Jess leads strategic engagement activities as the Opera House works towards its ambition to be Everyone’s House. This includes championing the Opera House’s commitment to the UN Global Goals and inspiring positive change in areas including environmental sustainability, accessibility, reconciliation, and education, as well as diversity, inclusion and belonging.
During her career, Jess has worked in London and Sydney with a wide range of businesses, from world-renowned cultural institutions and multinationals to challenger brands. Before joining the Opera House, Jess led communications for TEDxSydney and was instrumental in establishing one of Australia’s fastest-growing independent PR agencies, Fuel Communications, now part of the HerdMSL group. Jess’ work has won awards from the Public Relations Institute of Australia, the B2B Marketing Awards in the UK and the prestigious international Cannes Lions.
Qualifications: BEng (Civil) (University of Wollongong) (Hons 1)
With formal training as a civil engineer, Ian has more than 25 years of industry experience working managing asset construction, operations and renewal.
Ian joined the Sydney Opera House in 2016 after 20 years working in the construction industry. His earlier career included experience in design and project management of high profile projects including a number of Sydney Olympics venues. With this as a foundation, Ian developed broader expertise, fulfilling leadership roles for delivery of major projects as well as reform initiatives for operations and maintenance of major assets.
As a member of the Opera House’s executive team, Ian is responsible for the management of the building including operations, asset planning, maintenance and capital works. He also leads the operational safety, security and sustainability teams. Under Ian’s leadership, the Opera House completed its Decade of Renewal, continued to improve environmental performance, became fully powered by renewables and obtained the highest 6-star Green Star performance rating.
Qualifications: BBus (Kuringgai CAE), Member Institute Chartered Accountants
Jon joined the Opera House in 2017. He is responsible for the finance, technology and private funding teams at the Opera House. Jon has more than 30 years’ global experience in the financial, property and professional services sectors. After starting his career at Price Waterhouse, he moved into financial services with senior roles at Macquarie Bank and was later CFO for Lloyds Bank businesses in Asia. Most recently, he was the global CFO at a family-owned global design and build services business.
Qualifications: BA Hons (University of Queensland)
Hugh joined the Opera House in 2013 as Head of Strategic Communications before becoming Executive Officer in 2014 and Director, Office of the CEO in2018. The role supports the CEO, Executive Team and broader organisation in the development and achievement of strategic priorities and coordination of day-to-day operations, and oversees communications between management and the Board. His previous experience included 20 years as a senior journalist, including at The Australian Financial Review and The Australian, as well as campaign and lobbying work in the US. He was a Knight Fellow at Stanford University.
Qualifications: BA Communications (University of Technology Sydney),Juris Doctor (Hons) (University of NSW)
Kya joined the Opera House in 2012 as Head of the CEO’s Office and Government Relations and later took on responsibility for renewal stakeholders, policy, planning and heritage before being appointed to lead the People and Government portfolio in 2018. Kya leads the development and implementation of people strategy, and oversees the Opera House’s relationship with government, corporate policy development, management of the planning and heritage framework and the organisation’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging.
Kya started her career in the media and screen sectors and has about 20 years’ experience in arts-based public sector entities, including in governance and policy, stakeholder management, government relations, and screen-based production, audience and industry development.
Qualifications: BLegS (Macquarie University), LLM (University of Technology, Sydney), AMICDA
Jemille has more than 25 years legal practice experience spanning private practice and senior inhouse legal roles, including at Qantas Airways Limited and the Council of the City of Sydney.
Jemille joined the Sydney Opera House in 2015 as Head of Legal, became General Counsel in 2018, and in 2020 was appointed General Counsel and Director, Risk. She is responsible for the legal, enterprise risk, program management and internal audit teams.