Lou Oppenheim

Lou is a strategic leader with 20 years’ experience in the performing arts, and a passion for connecting artists with audiences through the power of live performance, community engagement and the development of the next generation of artists and arts workers. She has an extensive background in venue management, with leadership roles in producing companies alongside national and international touring. Lou is currently the Executive Director at Sydney Dance Company, Australia’s leading contemporary dance company, where she is responsible for overall strategic, operational and commercial leadership, and works in partnership with the Artistic Director. This follows her role as Director, Production & Events at the Sydney Opera House, where her broad portfolio encompassed venue and event sales, event operations and planning, production services and recording and broadcast. Beginning her professional career at the global management consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Lou worked across Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America in a breadth of industries ranging from telecommunications to transport. Previous roles have included Create Infrastructure Senior Manager (Create NSW), Circus Oz General Manager, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Director of Operations. Lou is a Board Member and Treasurer of Theatre Network Australia (TNA) and Deputy Chair of ELISION Ensemble. She has also been an Arts Administration Tutor for the Australian Youth Orchestra and Chair of the City of Yarra Arts Advisory Committee. Lou holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer) and Bachelor of Arts (German, Linguistics) from the University of Melbourne.