Opera Australia has announced the departure of its CEO Fiona Allan. The announcement comes ahead of the release of the results of an enquiry into Opera Australia’s management processes by Creative Australia and OA’s most recent Annual Report which noted an operating loss of $4.9m.

OA Chair Rod Sims delivered the news in a statement released this morning, 29 January.

Fiona Allan. Photo © Prudence Upton.

Sims thanked Allan for her leadership of OA over the past three years.

“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 Board of Directors, the Executive Team, and our company of artists, creatives and arts workers express their gratitude to Fiona for her strong strategic leadership and exceptional efforts bringing OA back into production post-COVID, and for laying a solid foundation for OA to achieve its purpose to be an opera company for a 21st-century Australia.”

In the same statement, Allan said: “It has been a privilege and an...