Allan to move to Opera Australia from Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome Chief Executive and Artistic Director FIONA ALLAN will step down in November to become Chief Executive of Opera Australia.

Allan, who has spent six years at the Hippodrome, was the company's first female CEO and will become Opera Australia's first female CEO.

She currently chairs the West Midlands Regional Tourism Board and is president of UK Theatre, a position she has held for for five years. 

Opera Australia Chair David Mortimer said Allan's appointment was "critical" for the company, which had a £3.75m deficit in 2020.

"Opera Australia is the nation’s largest and most significant performing arts company and our successful recovery from Covid-19 will help drive the entire arts sector by rebuilding jobs and activity."