QPAC announces Rachel Healy as next chief executive officer

After a global search, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre has announced its new chief to take the institution into its next era as it becomes the biggest precinct of its kind in Australia.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) announces Rachel Healy as the next CEO. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

An arts veteran, who was previously named as one of the “top 100 identities taking the creative industries into the future”, has been announced as the new CEO of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in South Brisbane.

Rachel Healy will take on the coveted position after a high profile career working for Sydney’s Belvoir St. Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Festival and Vivid Festival.

“It’s one of the best jobs going in the country and in a city, really since QAGOMA opened, I just sort of looked at it and thought, ‘Brisbane is so cool’,” she said, revealing she has spent many years travelling to the River City for work but has never lived in the capital.

Ms Healy will lead QPAC into a new era, with the destination celebrating its 40th birthday next year, alongside the opening of a new 1500-seat theatre, which will make the precinct the largest performing arts centre in Australia.

She said taking over at such a momentous time from current CEO John Kotzas, who is planning to spend more time with his teenage children and perhaps pursue board roles, made for a “daunting” start, but she was up for the challenge.

Rachel Healy alongside John Kotzas at QPAC. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“The opening of a new theatre and more capacity to reach new audiences is something that I can certainly bring knowledge about,” Ms Healy said, having travelled the world as the former joint artistic director for the Adelaide Festival.

She said she was particularly interested in diversifying the audience at QPAC and continuing to build on the centre’s international program that began during Covid.

“It’s asking ourselves what can we do to become a place that everyone in Queensland wants to spend their leisure dollars and really, I guess, connecting as broadly as we possibly can with everyone,” she said.

The former Executive Manager Culture for the City of Sydney beat out applicants from around the world for the top job after an almost year-long recruitment process.

Chair of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Prof Peter Coaldrake AO, said Ms Healy had the right credentials to drive QPAC forward.

“We think she brings a great blend of commercial, artistic, governance and management experience – that seemed to be a very lovely combination and she’s very ambitious,” he said.

Ms Healy will relocate from Sydney to Queensland for the job, alongside her partner and composer Alan John and teenage daughter.

While she officially won’t take over the gig of CEO until December 11 when Mr Kotzas officially steps down, she said she was thrilled to be able to ease into the role.

“It feels like the most delicious luxury to take my time getting to know Brisbane and have lots of conversations and really immerse myself in the feel of a place before I have to sit behind a desk and really go,” she said.