Powerhouse Parramatta CEO Lisa Havilah Steps Down Amid Governance Probe
Two months prior to its inauguration on 7 November, Lisa Havilah, the CEO of the A$915m Powerhouse Parramatta museum in Sydney, has resigned. This decision was revealed by NSW arts minister John Graham on 27 August amid ongoing investigations into governance and procurement issues. Staff received an email from Melanie Hawyes, who confirmed that the opening would go ahead as scheduled. The museum, designed by Moreau Kusunoki in collaboration with Genton, represents the largest cultural project in NSW since the Sydney Opera House in 1973, encompassing over 18,000 square metres and seven galleries. Havilah, who has been with the museum since 2018, will be succeeded by Abbie Galvin as interim CEO following scrutiny over expenditures, including A$10 million on LED screens.
Key facts
- Lisa Havilah steps down as CEO of Powerhouse Parramatta
- Investigation into governance and procurement at the Powerhouse
- Opening still scheduled for 7 November
- Museum cost A$915 million
- Designed by Moreau Kusunoki and Genton
- Features 18,000 square metres of public and exhibition space
- A$10 million spent on LED screens and staging for Es Devlin's immersive experience
- Abbie Galvin appointed interim CEO, Louise Herron as strategic advisor
Entities
Artists
- Es Devlin
- Lisa Havilah
- Bharti Kher
- Abbie Galvin
- Louise Herron
- David Borger
- Chris Rath
Institutions
- Powerhouse Parramatta
- Powerhouse Trust
- Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport
- NSW Treasury
- Carriageworks
- Sydney Opera House
- Moreau Kusunoki
- Genton
- Australian Broadcasting Commission
- Sydney Morning Herald
- ArtAsiaPacific
- New South Wales government
- Ministry for the Arts of the government of New South Wales (NSW)
- Powerhouse
- Campbelltown Arts Centre
- Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
- Le Journal des Arts
- Powerhouse Museum
- NSW Government
- NSW Arts Minister
- NSW Department of Creative Industries
- NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption
- Ki Community
- The Guardian
- The Sydney Morning Herald
- The Australian
- ScreenHub
- ArtsHub
- NSW Ministry for the Arts
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport
- NSW Arts
- Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS)
- Department of Creative Industries
Locations
- Sydney
- Australia
- New South Wales
- Parramatta
- Western Sydney
- Ultimo
- Castle Hill
- London
- Redfern