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Powerhouse Parramatta CEO steps aside amid governance probe
🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Powerhouse Parramatta CEO steps aside amid governance probe

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • Powerhouse Parramatta CEO Lisa Havilah has stepped aside 10 weeks before the museum's opening due to ongoing investigations into governance and procurement.
  • The NSW Government Architect, Abbie Galvin, will serve as interim CEO, with former Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron as strategic advisor.
  • Despite the investigation, the museum's November 7 opening date remains unchanged, with officials assuring the timeline will not be impacted.

Lisa Havilah, the CEO of Powerhouse Parramatta, has stepped aside from her role just 10 weeks before the highly anticipated opening of the Western Sydney cultural institution. The decision comes amid ongoing investigations into the museum's governance and procurement practices.

The announcement was made Thursday via a statement from the office of Minister for Arts John Graham. A spokesperson for the Department of Creative Industries stated that the matters are "complex and involve multiple lines of inquiry" and that the department is committed to addressing them with "due diligence and procedural fairness." No formal findings have been made at this stage.

I think obviously, it's challenging…these things are always somewhat surprising. Obviously it's not an ideal situation this close to the opening.

— David BorgerPresident of the Powerhouse Trust commenting on the timing of the CEO's stepping aside.

David Borger, President of the Powerhouse Trust, acknowledged the challenging timing of the announcement but confirmed that the November 7 opening date for the $915 million project will not be affected. "A 100 per cent the curtains are going to rise on the November 7….and there's no changing that," he stated.

A 100 per cent the curtains are going to rise on the November 7….and there's no changing that.

— David BorgerConfirming that the museum's opening date will not be impacted by the leadership change.

To ensure a smooth opening, an interim leadership team has been appointed. NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin will step in as CEO from September 1, bringing significant experience in public, infrastructure, and cultural sectors. Louise Herron, former CEO of the Sydney Opera House, will serve as a strategic advisor.

This development follows previous scrutiny of the project's budget. In March, MP Chris Rath questioned Ms. Havilah about potential "budget blowouts." Ms. Havilah had previously denied any overruns, asserting that both the Parramatta project and the Ultimo museum revitalization were being delivered within their allocated budgets. Ms. Havilah has been CEO of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) for over seven years and previously led the expansion of the Carriageworks arts hub.

The Department has a responsibility to address these matters with due diligence and procedural fairness.

— Spokesperson for the Department of Creative IndustriesStating the department's approach to the ongoing investigations.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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