The Artistic Director of the Queensland Theatre Company, Wesley Enoch has resigned his position to be the next leader of the Sydney International Festival. Enoch leaves QTC after five years at the helm, and will take over the Sydney Festival from Belgian director Lieven Bertels. As a theatre director, Enoch has directed six projects for the Sydney Festival since 2000, and has worked with almost every major theatre company and festival in Australia, making him ideally placed to lead what is unquestionably one of Australia’s flagship international festivals.

Speaking of the new appointment, Enoch said, “Exited is too inadequate a word for him I’m feeling. I have had a long love affair with Sydney Festival and its audiences. I’m totally thrilled to return in the role of Festival Director. Festivals provide a huge cultural canvas and help reimagine a city, helping it think creatively and see things differently. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting started.”

Troy Grant, the deputy premiere and Arts Minister of NSW, welcomed the new appointment, saying, “Wesley has already made a significant contribution to the Australian arts landscape, and brings a wealth of experience to this coveted role in which he will lead one of the country’s most important annual events.”

The appointment is the latest in a growing trend that has seen the top jobs at the major international arts festivals go to Australian artists after a period of several years that saw artistic directors from overseas leading the majority of the major festivals. Earlier this year Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield were announced as the new co-directors of the Adelaide Festival, taking over from Liverpudlian David Sefton, and at the end of last year Wendy Martin was announced as the next leader of the Perth Festival, replacing British director Jonathan Holloway.