Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan to step down from debt-plagued company

Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan is to leave the company – the latest in a string of high-profile departures that have rocked the national opera company and broader arts scene.

Opera Australia chief executive Fiona Allan has decided to step down from debt-plagued company. Picture: Daniel Boud

Opera Australia CEO Fiona Allan is to leave the company – the latest in a string of high-profile executive departures that have rocked the national opera company and the broader performing arts sector.

Allan’s resignation follows OA’s dramatic announcement in August 2024 that it was parting ways with its artistic director, Jo Davies, who had been serving full-time in the role for less than one year. OA attributed the shock departure of Davies – its first female artistic director – to “differences of opinion about how Opera Australia should successfully balance artistic innovation, audience development and commercial imperative’’.

Ms Allan’s resignation comes as a Creative Australia review into OA’s leadership structure is due to report in March, while a $4.9 million operating loss was revealed in the company’s 2023 annual report.

Former Opera Australia artistic director Jo Davies stepped down in August last year. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

The outgoing CEO said it had been “a privilege and an honour to lead Australia’s national opera company’’ and that she planned to explore new opportunities in cultural leadership.

She added: “On stage, highlights of my tenure include the unforgettable Ring Cycle in Brisbane, Lohengrin featuring Jonas Kaufmann, and the launch of the free BMW Opera for All series in Melbourne’s Fed Square.’’

OA chair Rod Sims thanked Ms Allan for leading the company through its challenging post-Covid revival during her three-year tenure.

Opera Australia’s new season 2025 includes Hadestown. Picture: Marc Brenner

Mr Sims said: “Fiona’s tireless work has enabled the company to regain its momentum post-Covid and put in place a clear strategic direction for a sustainable future. Fiona has positioned OA well to continue its evolution in the complex environment in which all arts organisations are operating.’’

The company’s chief operating officer, Simon Militano, will serve as acting CEO until a permanent successor to Ms Allan is appointed. In a statement, OA said its board “will commence an immediate search to appoint a permanent CEO’’.

Ms Allan took up her OA role in late 2021 after spending six years as artistic director and CEO of Birmingham Hippodrome in the UK. In 2022, long-serving OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini stepped down from his job one year earlier than anticipated.

Jo Davies and Fiona Allan. Picture: Daniel Boud

Federal arts agency Creative Australia launched a review into OA’s governance after the premature resignation of Davies, who had relocated to Australia from the UK to take up her artistic director role. Corporate adviser Gabrielle Trainor has been engaged to investigate OA’s leadership structures and processes and is due to hand down her findings in March.

In 2024, Allan said the review was “unrelated” to Davies’ departure and was a “huge opportunity’’ that could identify areas for improvement at OA.

As arts companies struggle financially in the post-Covid era, other flagship organisations including Queensland Ballet, the Adelaide Festival and Queensland Theatre Company have seen their leaders suddenly depart or step down.