Fiona Allan has been appointed as Opera Australia’s new Chief Executive Officer. She will take over the role by the end of 2021, with Rory Jeffes – who announced that he would leave OA in February – continuing as CEO until that time.

Fiona Allan

Fiona Allan. Photo © Pamela Raith Photography

Born in Sydney but based in the UK since 2004, Allan has worked in the arts and cultural sector for over 25 years, with a career spanning both artistic and organisational leadership.

She comes to OA direct from the Birmingham Hippodrome where she has been Artistic Director and Chief Executive since 2015. Together with leading producers, the Birmingham Hippodrome presents a wide range of performing arts including musicals, international dance and ballet, opera, theatre and comedy.

Allan was the first female CEO at Birmingham Hippodrome and will also be OA’s first female CEO.

She joins OA at a difficult time in its history due to the impact of COVID-19, which saw it forced to cancel most of its 2020 season, as well as its Sydney 2021 winter season. It recently postponed its forthcoming seasons of The Phantom of the...