The Sydney Writers’ Festival Board of Directors have announced Brooke Webb as the next CEO.
Brooke Webb has been an executive director, executive producer and artistic director for large global entertainment and production companies for more than two decades, including Vivid LIVE, GRAPHIC festival, The Taste of Tasmania and Cirque du Soleil.
She was the appointed Acting CEO during this year’s Festival. After three years in the position, former CEO of Sydney Writers’ Festival Chrissy Sharp will be stepping down.
Mark Scott, the festival’s Chair, said in a statement the organisers have “loved every moment of Chrissy’s leadership with us.”
“We could not believe our good fortune in recruiting Chrissy back in 2018, and every day she confirmed that initial view with her clear and decisive leadership, not least in taking us through the massive COVID disruption of 2020,” he expressed.
Despite cancellation and closed borders during this year’s festival, the organisation’s trust and foundation funding increased by 262 percent in 2020.
Sharp also oversaw huge growths in the Festival’s digital program of podcasts and events, with close to 600,000 downloads between May 2020 to May 2021.
“There are few leaders of Australian arts organisations who have earned greater respect and admiration than Chrissy Sharp,” Scott said. “We will miss her intellect and commitment to delivering the finest experiences for audiences.”
“We are very fortunate to have Brooke and Michael working with us again to deliver the next Sydney Writers’ Festival,” Scott added, referring to Michael Williams, who continues his role as Artistic Director of the festival.
“They are both exceptional, creative leaders and have a clear sense of what our audiences want from one of the world’s great writers’ festivals.”
“The Board is very excited about what they have in store for our committed and growing audiences in 2022.”
Photo: The Mercury