Sydney Opera House Trust
The Sydney Opera House Trust consists of 10 members appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Minister for the Arts. A Trustee holds office for three years and is eligible for reappointment for no more than three consecutive terms. The Trustees must include at least two persons who have knowledge of, or experience in the performing arts.
The Trust’s objectives are:
- To administer, care for, control, manage and maintain the Sydney Opera House building and site
- To manage and administer the site as an arts centre and meeting place
- To promote artistic taste and achievement in all branches of the performing art
- To foster scientific research into and to encourage the development of new forms of entertainment and presentation (excerpt from Sydney Opera House Trust Act, 1961)
Joined the Trust on 1 January 2021 as Chair.
She is serving her first term to 31 December 2023.
Qualifications: MBA (University of NSW), LLB (University of Sydney)
Lucy is an urbanist, businesswoman and philanthropist with a longstanding interest in cities and technological and social innovation. From 2015-20, she was the inaugural Chief Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission, tasked by the NSW Government to assist in delivering strong and effective strategic planning for metropolitan Sydney. Lucy was the first female Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney from 2003-04. In 2011, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her distinguished service to the community, local government and business. She has served as a board member of multiple cultural and other not-for-profit institutions.
The University of NSW awarded Lucy an honorary Doctorate of Business in 2012 and appointed her an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Built Environment in 2016. In 2017, she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Western Sydney University for her substantial and sustained service and contribution to the University and Greater Western Sydney region.
Joined the Trust on 1 January 2022 and is serving his first term to 31 December 2024. He is a Member of the Audit & Risk Committee and from 3 August 2023 a Member of the Visitor Experience Committee.
David is a highly accomplished singer, stage performer and television/radio presenter. He was a founding member of the Hayes Theatre Co and has served as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. He has won four Helpmann awards, as well as ARIA and Sydney Theatre awards. David co-hosts the Nine Network’s national Today Extra show, as well as the annual Carols by Candlelight broadcast. In 2019, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service to entertainment and the arts.
Joined the Trust 1 January 2018 and is serving his second term to 31 December 2023. He is Chair of the Visitor Experience Committee and a Member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BBus (Charles Sturt University)
Michael is a strategically focused leader with a 35-year career across the technology, telecommunications and media sectors. He has a successful track record in leading organisational transformation and is passionate about workplace culture, leadership and diversity. In 2017, Michael was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the broadcast media and multicultural affairs and named CEO of the Year at CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards.
Michael is also a non-executive Director of BAI Communications and Screen Australia.
He was previously Group Executive, Telstra Enterprise (2018-20). In this role, he was responsible for revenues in excess of $8 billion and for Telstra Enterprise’s international operations, with about 3,500 people in 20 countries and the largest subsea cable network in the Asia-Pacific region.
Prior to Telstra, Michael was the CEO and Managing Director of SBS (2011-18), where he significantly evolved the public broadcaster's portfolio with four distinctive TV channels, an extensive in-language radio offering and new market-leading digital services like SBS On Demand.
Joined the Trust on 1 January 2018 and is serving her second term to 31 December 2023. She is a Member of the Visitor Experience Committee.
Qualifications: BSocWk (University of NSW), LittD hc (University of NSW)
Kathryn has held a wide range of leadership positions in public and private companies, the government sector and non-profit organisations. She has participated in or led education inquiries (including the Gonski Review and NSW Catholic Funding Review) and led a review into the NSW retirement village sector. Kathryn’s professional career has included social work and early childhood services, as well as media roles at Radio 2UE and Channel10. Kathryn was an elected Councillor to the Sydney City Council from 1995-2004. In June 2001, she was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to early childhood education, philanthropy and local government in Sydney.
Kathryn is Chair of Paediatrio Ltd, Pennington Institute and Lifestart Co-op Ltd. She is a Director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Menzies Foundation and Relationships Australia (NSW).
Joined the Trust 1 January 2023 and is serving her first term to 31 December 2025. She is Chair of the Conservation Council and a Member of the Building& Heritage Committee.
Qualifications: BA (Hons) (University of Sydney), MBA (Distinction) (INSEAD France)
Susan is the President of Chief Executive Women, Chair of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, a non-executive Director of Rio Tinto Limited, a non-executive Director of Macquarie Group, and a Member of the INSEAD Global Board.
Susan was Chief Executive Officer of Mirvac and a Director on the Mirvac Board from 2012 to 2023. Prior to this appointment, Susan was Managing Director at LaSalle Investment Management in London. Susan has also held senior executive positions at MGPA, Macquarie Group and Lend Lease Corporation, working in Australia, the US and Europe.
Joined the Trust 18 February 2015 and is serving her third term to 31 December 2023. She is a Member of the Visitor Experience Committee.
Qualifications: BA (Queensland University of Technology)
Deborah is one of Australia’s most highly respected actors. Her career in the performing arts began in 1992. Since then she has worked extensively in theatre, television and film, performing in productions for the Actors Company for the Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Melbourne Theatre Company, Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts, La Boite Theatre and Queensland Theatre Company, as well as having toured nationally and internationally. Deborah’s work has been recognised with many awards, including Helpmann, AACTA, Logie, AFI and Deadly awards. She was NAIDOC Person of the Year in 2003. Deborah was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her significant service to the performing arts as an actor, role model for Indigenous performers and to the community. Deborah is a Member of the Screen Australia Board.
Joined the Trust 1 January 2019 and is serving his second term to 31 December 2023. He is a Member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BA, LLB (Hons) (Sydney University), LLM (Harvard University), FAICD
Kevin is Chair of Telix Pharmaceuticals, China Matters and Blueprint Institute. He is a Member of the Champions of Change Coalition, Council of Barker College and Tennis Australia Nominations Committee. Kevin is a Director of Origin Foundation Pty Limited, Sydney Harbour Conservancy Limited and Australian Haydn Ensemble. He is a former Chair of Macquarie Group Limited and Macquarie Bank Limited, Origin Energy Limited, Healthscope Limited and Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. Kevin was a Partner of solicitors Allens Arthur Robinson (now Allens) and Chairman from 1995 to 2004. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020 for services to business, corporate governance and as an advocate for gender equity.
Joined the Trust 1 January 2018 and is serving her second term to 31 December 2023. She is Chair of the Building & Heritage Committee.
Qualifications: BBus (Queensland University of Technology)
Kylie is the Chief Executive Officer of QIC, one of the largest institutional investment managers in Australia. With $100 billion in funds undermanagement, QIC is a long-term specialist manager in alternatives, offering infrastructure, real estate, natural capital, private equity, private debt, liquid strategies and multi-asset investments.
Kylie has more than 25 years’ experience in investment management, particularly in real assets investing. Her expertise spans private markets, including real estate, and private and public capital markets, real estate development, asset management, mergers and acquisitions, business strategy, and operations.
Prior to joining QIC In April 2022, Kylie was Group Head of Investment sat Lendlease, and a member of the global leadership team and global investment committee. Kylie also spent 13 years at Macquarie, in Australia and the US, and also worked at Gandel Group, AMP and Schroders.
Joined the Trust 1 January 2023 and is serving his first term to 31 December 2025. He is a Member of the Building & Heritage Committee.
Qualifications: B Com and LLB (University of NSW)
Allan is Managing Director of the TOGA Group, a property development, construction, investment and hospitality management group, as well as the Chairman of TFE Hotels. Prior to joining TOGA Group in 1989 as Group Chief Operations Officer, Allan worked in the banking and finance sector with Bankers Trust and Macquarie Bank.
Allan is a Director of the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce and the Jewish Care Foundation. Previous directorships include the Tourism and Transport Forum (2009-18) and the Australia Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.
Allan was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019 for his service to the hospitality industry and to the Jewish community.
Joined the Trust 1 January 2023 and is serving her first term to 31 December 2025. She is Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Qualifications: BSc (University of Sydney), MBA (Macquarie Graduate School of Management)
Sara is an experienced non-executive director and audit and risk committee chair working across a range of sectors. Sara is currently a Board Member of Syrah Resources, Trajan Scientific, Nuix and Uniting NSW.ACT.
Sara’s previous roles include: Trustee of the Australian Museum and chair of its audit and risk committee; non-executive Director of Vision Australia and Chair of its audit and risk committee; Vice-Principal Operations at the University of Sydney; and Chief Financial Officer and Executive Sponsor Corporate Responsibility, IBM Australia and New Zealand.
Sara mentors emerging and transitioning leaders in financial and operational roles, regularly performs as a chorister with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and CPA Australia.