Biennale of Sydney

About Us

The Biennale of Sydney acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country, in particular the Gadigal people on whose land the Biennale of Sydney is located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay our respect to Elders, past, present and emerging.

The Biennale of Sydney is one of the leading international contemporary art events. It plays an indispensable role in Australia’s engagement with the world, and a meaningful role in the life of the nation. The Biennale presents the most dynamic contemporary art from around the globe in venues across Sydney with exhibitions that ignite and surprise people, sparking dialogue, cultivating connections and inspiring action through meaningful, shared arts experiences. The Biennale of Sydney amplifies the voices of artists and tell the stories of our global communities, as they drive momentum for lasting cultural change.

Established in 1973, it is the third oldest biennial in the world after Venice and São Paulo and the largest exhibition of its kind in Australia. The Biennale of Sydney has commissioned and presented exceptional works of art by more than 2,400 national and international artists from more than 130 countries.

Board of Directors

Kate Mills (Chairman)
Kate Mills is an experienced company director, commercial lawyer, policy adviser and consultant on corporate governance and strategy. Kate is a member of international and national visual and performing arts institutions, and an avid collector. 

Matt Crocker (Deputy Chairman)
Matt Crocker is a strategic advisor with expertise in infrastructure, public policy, and corporate strategy. As Head of Market Development & Corporate Affairs at Plenary, he leads advocacy for private capital solutions and oversees corporate affairs, including communications and stakeholder relations. Previously, Matt served as Policy Director for three NSW Premiers, shaping key infrastructure and social policies. He has advised organisations like the University of Technology Sydney, Westpac, and the Australian Energy Market Commission. Matt is also Deputy Chair of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Deputy Chair of United Way Australia, and a Board Member at the Committee for Sydney. 

Ruby Langton-Batty (Company Secretary)
Ruby Langton-Batty is a proud descendant of the Bidjara and Iman peoples of Central Queensland. Prior to studying law at the UNSW, Ruby worked as a professional stage and screen designer. Ruby has diverse experience across media, entertainment, law, and the not-for-profit sector. With almost 10 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and governance, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and issues, Ruby is currently a Senior Advisor with Indigenous Business Australia. She is passionate about advocating for artists and arts institutions. 

Adam Boyton
Adam Boyton has extensive experience across the public and private sectors. He has been a board member of the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, the NSW Skills Board and the NSW Rice Marketing Board. Adam has also served on audit and risk committees (including as Chair). As the National Skills Commissioner he led the establishment of the National Skills Commission (NSC), positioning the NSC as a core advisor to Government on labour markets and presenting to Federal and National Cabinet on labour market developments during COVID-19. This governance and public policy background is complemented by extensive private sector experience. Adam has been the Chief Economist at the Business Council of Australia and the Chief Economist and Head of Fixed Income Research at Deutsche Bank Australia. He is currently the head of Australian Economics at ANZ.

Adelle Robinson
Adelle Robinson is a descendant of the Wiradjuri people and has over 20 years’ experience producing some of Australia’s largest music festivals including Field Day, Harbourlife, Shore Thing and Listen Out. Having worked across Australia’s most unique and sensitive venues Adelle has led the way for best practise in event management and event stakeholder liaison. As Chair and committee member of the Australian Festival Association Adelle has worked as member of the NSW Music Festivals Regulatory Round Table and she gave evidence at the 2019 Parliamentary Inquiry in Music Festival Regulation. Adelle is currently undertaking a Graduate Certificate of Wiradjuri Language Culture and Heritage through Charles Sturt University.

Anne Flanagan
Anne Flanagan, former deputy director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is one of Australia’s most respected art museum leaders. During her 23 years at AGNSW she was responsible for exhibitions and major capital project delivery including Yiribana gallery for Indigenous art, the Asian gallery expansion, John Kaldor Family Gallery and the masterplan for the Gallery expansion. She was a director of Bundanon Trust from 2015 to 2024. 

Chris Wirasinha
Chris Wirasinha is the co-founder of Linkby, an advertising technology company connecting brands with publishers, email newsletters and creators through a cost-per-click content model. Since launching in 2020, Linkby has expanded globally to the US and UK, working with over 1,500 brands and major publishers like USA Today, Morning Brew and News Corp. Before Linkby, Chris co-founded Pedestrian.tv, which became Australia’s leading youth media platform and was acquired by Nine Entertainment Co. 

Danielle Earp
Danielle Earp is currently the Senior Exhibitions Manager at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her managerial and directorial experience spans two decades working for visual arts and cultural organisations including; Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Living Museums, Biennale of Sydney, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Sherman Galleries and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

Emma Perera
Emma Perera is an experienced and passionate media professional who has managed some of Australia’s most popular print brands over the last 15 years. She is currently a director at Universal Media Co and has a background in law. Early in her career Emma volunteered her time to the Arts Law Centre of Australia, a not-for-profit that provides advice to artists and creative communities and is the preeminent authority on artists’ rights and arts law in Australia.

Geoffrey Cassidy
Geoffrey Cassidy is an experienced arts administrator and expert in Australian and International Art. Presently the CEO of Herringbone Fine Art Systems and Transport, he is a former Director of Sothebys Worldwide and the former Director of Artbank, The Federal Government Arts support initiative. As such he has broad experience in both the commercial and institutional aspects of the art world. He believes in the relevance and importance of art to national identity, and specialises in art curation, advisory and arts management. In another life Geoffrey was also a supporting solicitor in the Queensland Native Title Unit, where he assisted on major litigation to determine the effect of pastoral leases on Aboriginal land rights.

James Roth
James has over 30 years’ experience in accounting and finance working with Deutsche bank, UBS, Schroders and Arthur Andersen. He is a Director of Craig’s investment partners in New Zealand and is currently a patron of the Asian Australian Artist Association as well as a member of the Asian Art Archive.

Johanna Featherstone
Johanna Featherstone is the Founder and former Artistic Director of Red Room Poetry where she established a national poetry education program for schools and correctional centres in New South Wales. Her poetry has been featured in a range of journals and anthologies, and she is currently Director of the Oranges & Sardines Foundation and also of Black & Bright and Belvoir board.

Khaled Sabsabi
Khaled Sabsabi is an acclaimed contemporary artist who uses art as a tool for communication and engagement. For over 35 years, he has worked across mediums, borders, and communities, creating more than 65 major mixed media and installation works. Represented by Milani Gallery, Brisbane, he has exhibited in over 90 solo and group shows globally, including the Biennale of Sydney, Shanghai Biennale, Sharjah Biennial, and Kochi Muziris Biennale. 

Sabsabi has received numerous awards, including the Blake Prize, the Creative Australia Visual Arts Award, and most recently the Mordant Family and Creative Australia American Academy Rome Affiliated Fellowship. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, he migrated to Australia in 1976 and holds a Master of Fine Arts from UNSW. 

Committees & Advisors

Benefaction Committee
Emma Perera (Convenor)
Johanna Featherstone
Khaled Sabsabi
Lourdes Samson
Ruby Langton-Batty

Finance, Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee
Geoffrey Cassidy (Convenor)
Adam Boyton
Adelle Robinson
Anne Flanagan
James Roth

Artistic Director Search Committee:
Anne Flanagan (Convenor)
Alexie Glass-Kantor
Barbara Moore
Johanna Featherstone
José Roca
Khaled Sabsabi
Dr Michael Brand
Ruby Langton-Batty
Suzanne Cotter
Tony Albert

Digital & Programming Committee
Chris Wirasinha

Our People | Biennale of Sydney

Barbara Moore, Chief Executive Officer
Samantha Sudarman, Executive Assistant to the CEO

Hoor Al Qasimi, 25th Artistic Director
Bruce Johnson McLean, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain First Nations Curatorial Fellow

Tim Barker, Head of Production
Matt Woodham, Production Manager
Deborah Jones, Senior Registrar – Gallery Exhibition Manager
Gotaro Uematsu, Audio Visual Manager
Julia Greenstreet, Exhibitions Manager
Fredrika Mackenzie, Production & Exhibitions Manager
Alicia Hollier, Exhibitions Coordinator
Noah Bennett, Production and Events Coordinator
Billie Phillips, Assistant Curator
Michael Kennedy, Producer

Aishlinn McCarthy, Head of Communications
Andrew Dillon, Impact and Engagement Manager
Emma Moser, Marketing Coordinator
Ahmad Makia, Publications Editor

Samantha Jones, Head of Development
Charli Pope, Grants and Advocacy Manager
Louise Villar, Development Coordinator
Felicia Cindyagatha, Development Coordinator

Sandra Slade, Head of Corporate Services
Elizabeth Nguyen, Finance Manager (parental leave)
Mani Manimaran, Finance Manager (parental leave cover)
Jasmine Stephens, Office Manager

Join the Team

The Biennale of Sydney is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity in the workplace.

 

Festival Hospitality & Commercial Manager

BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 

The Biennale of Sydney acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country, in particular the Gadigal people on whose land the Biennale of Sydney is located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and pay our respect to Elders, past and present. 

The Biennale of Sydney is one of the leading international contemporary art events. It plays an indispensable role in Australia’s engagement with the world, and a meaningful role in the life of the nation. The Biennale presents the most dynamic contemporary art from around the globe in venues across Sydney with exhibitions that ignite and surprise people, sparking dialogue, cultivating connections, and inspiring action through meaningful, shared arts experiences.  

Established in 1973, it is the third oldest biennial in the world after Venice and São Paulo and the largest exhibition of its kind in Australia. The Biennale of Sydney has commissioned and presented exceptional works of art by more than 2,400 national and international artists from more than 132 countries and territories. 

 

WORKING FOR THE BIENNALE OF SYDNEY 

The Biennale of Sydney fosters a collaborative and respectful workplace culture, with a team as diverse as the exhibitions we present and the audiences who experience them. We actively encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disability and those who have diverse experiences of our world to join the Biennale of Sydney team.  

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process and supportive workplace. If you are applying for a position and have support or access requirements, let us know in your application or by contacting the nominated person in the advertisement. 

The Biennale of Sydney believes that art should be accessible to all. Thanks to our generous supporters, our exhibitions are presented with free admission. For our employees, we provide professional development opportunities to enrich and develop your love of the arts while valuing the specific skills and experiences you bring to the Biennale of Sydney. As a not-for-profit organisation, we also offer salary packaging options. 

 

APPLYING FOR THE ROLE 

Applicants to mark subject line in email as ‘Confidential’ and address the selection criteria must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 22 April, 2025. 

Your application must include the following:  

  • a cover letter outlining how you meet the selection criteria;  
  • a current CV; and  
  • the names and daytime contacts of at least two (2) professional referees.  

Email to: employment@biennaleofsydney.com.au  

Subject line: Application | Festival Hospitality & Commercial Manager 

 

Only applications sent to the above employment@ email address will be considered. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered. 

ROLE STATEMENT  

Position Title: Festival Hospitality & Commercial Manager 

Department: Development 

Reporting to: Head of Development 

Direct Reports: Nil 

Contract term: Full Time fixed term role until July 2026 – with the option to extend. 

Remuneration: Competitive salary in line with the current market rates 

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION  

The Biennale of Sydney is seeking a dynamic and commercially driven Festival Hospitality & Commercial Manager to lead and grow our revenue-generating activities. This role is pivotal in maximising commercial opportunities across venue hire, food & beverage operations at White Bay Power Station, and other revenue streams that complement our fundraising and partnerships. 

Reporting to the Head of Development, the Festival Hospitality & Commercial Manager will have ownership over commercial agreements, negotiating and contracting key suppliers while driving business development initiatives that contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the Biennale. 

This is a rare opportunity to make a direct impact on one of Australia’s most prestigious contemporary art events, helping to shape its financial future while ensuring the best visitor experience. 

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Based on an application addressing the Essential Criteria, Curriculum Vitae and, for selected candidates, an interview and references, the Biennale of Sydney needs to be satisfied that the applicant meets the following criteria:

Essential Criteria 
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience in a commercial, business development, or revenue-generating role for venues, festivals or similar events. 
  • Proven ability to identify, evaluate, and execute commercial strategies that drive financial success. 
  • Strong financial literacy with experience developing business cases and managing budgets. 
  • Excellent negotiation and contract management skills. 
  • Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships. 
  • Self-starter with the ability to work independently and drive results. 
Desirable Criteria 
  • Experience in venue hire, hospitality, or event management. 
  • Knowledge of or experience in the arts and cultural sector. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Commercial Strategy & Business Development 

 

  • Develop and execute commercial strategies that drive revenue and meet financial targets.  
  • Work collaboratively with the Development Team to ensure commercial activities align with fundraising and sponsorship agreements. 
  • Collaborate across all Biennale functions to drive revenues in ticketing, venue hire, food & beverage sales and publication/merchandise.   
  • Oversee venue hire operations, identifying new opportunities for event bookings and partnerships. 
  • Lead the contracting and management of food & beverage providers at White Bay Power Station to support the Festival, ensuring optimal profitability and visitor experience. 
  • Identify and implement new commercial revenue streams beyond the Biennale event period. 
  • Analyse financial performance, develop business cases, and adapt strategies to maximise revenue potential. 

 

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership 

 

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with commercial partners, vendors, and sponsors. 
  • Collaborate across Biennale departments to ensure a seamless integration of commercial initiatives. 
  • Act as an ambassador for the Biennale, confidently representing the organisation in negotiations and public engagements. 
  • Engage internal and external stakeholders to support and expand commercial revenue streams. 
Operational & Contract Management 

 

  • Lead the negotiation and execution of contracts with commercial vendors and venue hire clients. 
  • Ensure all commercial agreements align with the Biennale’s strategic goals and financial objectives. 
  • Monitor performance metrics and conduct post-event reviews to drive continuous improvement. 
  • Work closely with internal teams to ensure all commercial activities meet brand, artistic, and operational requirements. 
Work, Health and Safety (WHS) 
  • All staff are required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other personnel (including volunteers and interns) who may be affected by their conduct 
Key Performance Indicators  

  

  • Achievement of commercial revenue targets set by the Biennale. 
  • Successful negotiation and execution of contracts with commercial vendors. 
  • Growth of venue hire business and food & beverage sales. 
  • Effective integration of commercial activities with broader Biennale objectives. 
  • Positive stakeholder feedback and long-term commercial partnerships secured. 

 

 

Exhibition Reports

24th Biennale of Sydney (2024) Exhibition Report

Curated by Cosmin Costinaş and Inti Guerrero, the 24th Biennale of Sydney, held from 9 March to 10 June 2024, featured 402 artworks by 96 artists and collectives, attracting 777,386 visitors to seven exhibition locations.

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23rd Biennale of Sydney (2022) Exhibition Report

Curated by José Roca, the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, held from 12 March until 13 June 2022, featured 330 artworks by 89 participants.

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22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020) Exhibition Report

Under the artistic direction of acclaimed Indigenous Australian artist, Brook Andrew, the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, titled NIRIN, was an artist- and First Nations-led endeavour, presenting an expansive exhibition of contemporary art and events.

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21st Biennale of Sydney (2018) Exhibition Report

The 21st Biennale of Sydney: SUPERPOSITION: Equilibrium & Engagement exhibited works from 70 artists, attracting visitation of more than 850,000 at seven of Sydney’s museums, galleries and non-traditional exhibition spaces.

Learn More Download

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country, in particular the Gadigal people on whose land the Biennale of Sydney is located. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture and pay our respect to Elders, past and present.

First Nations people are respectfully advised that this site includes works, names and images of deceased people. This includes cultural practices and artistic intellectual property of a sensitive nature.