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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Eight years ago, about midway through her term as boss of the Sydney Opera House, Louise Herron received a dressing-down from Alan Jones, one time commander of the commercial airwaves.<\/p>\n Jones repeatedly called for her resignation<\/a>, berating her on air for refusing to project promotional material for The Everest horse race directly onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House.<\/p>\n \u201cWho do you think you are?\u201d Jones repeatedly asked Herron. \u201cYou don\u2019t own the Opera House.\u201d<\/p>\n Herron steps down from the Sydney Opera House effective August 6, exactly 14 years to the day since she took on the position as the venue\u2019s first female chief executive. She announced her departure to staff on Wednesday afternoon, calling an end to an era that shaped and transformed arguably the world\u2019s most recognised performing arts venue. Herron will be taking up a position as a vice-chancellor\u2019s fellow at the University of Sydney from September.<\/p>\n In her 14 years, Herron managed to secure $300 million from the NSW government for a huge renewal program, resisted a push to put corporate logos on the house, programmed bands on the forecourt in defiance of a small band of nearby residents complaining, and crystallised and prioritised the notion that the Opera House should be a \u201cplace for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n But it was that testy exchange and her defence of the Opera House against horse racing interests that first defined her in the public mind.<\/p>\n \u201cPerversely, I\u2019m grateful to Alan Jones for that conversation,\u201d she recalled. \u201cIt was an opportunity for people to show how much they cared for the Opera House, and the next day 5000 people had signed an online petition. People did wild things, setting up massive lights on the bridge to block the projection. It showed how much love there was for the Opera House and level of support personally for its conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n Herron\u2019s departure will trigger an international search for her replacement, with Australians likely to be on any headhunter\u2019s list including Rachel Healy and Karen Quinlan, who run equivalent performing arts centres in Brisbane and Melbourne respectively, and those in charge of Sydney organisations such as Fergus Linehan (Carriageworks), Anne Dunn (Sydney Theatre Company), Kim McKay (Australian Museum), Barbara Moore (Biennale of Sydney) and Lisa Havilah (Powerhouse Museum).<\/p>\n The Australian Ballet\u2019s executive director, Claire Spencer, and the National Film and Sound Archive\u2019s Patrick McIntyre, who was executive director of the Sydney Theatre Company for more than 11 years, might also be sounded out.<\/p>\n From within, Kya Blondin will take over from Herron in an acting capacity until a successor is named later this year. Having stood in for Herron during a recent six-month sabbatical, Blondin could also be a contender.<\/p>\n A former MinterEllison partner and chair of Belvoir St Theatre, Herron was appointed to chief executive in 2012 with no prior experience running an arts company and no funding in sight for long-called-for works.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a huge learning curve,\u201d she said. \u201cI was completely unknown at the time, I wasn\u2019t on anyone\u2019s radar and I think that\u2019s really important to bear in mind \u2013 that people can emerge. And that\u2019s the thing about leadership, right? If you give people the right environment and the right belief and the right tools they will so often exceed their own and other people\u2019s expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n During her term she oversaw the largest and most transformative series of building works since the Opera House opened in 1973.<\/p>\n The renewal touched all corners of the building and opened new spaces to the public \u2013 removing vehicles from the forecourt, establishing a new Centre for Creativity and acoustically refurbishing the concert hall, replacing its doughnut sound reflectors with acoustic petals, as well as improving access for visitors with limited mobility.<\/p>\n The Opera House celebrated its 40th anniversary and its year-long 50th anniversary celebrations with Herron at the helm, who, never one to waste an opportunity, used both birthdays as ways to leverage capital funding and cement Jorn Utzon\u2019s creation as Australia\u2019s favourite building.<\/p>\n Known for her tenacity and drive, Herron leaves a strong legacy of cultural stewardship and heritage protection of the world-famous heritage building. Staring down Alan Jones did not faze her, even if then-premier Gladys Berejiklian went on to order the projection of numbers and colours but not the Everest logo and horses\u2019 names. Heeding the furore, the next year race runners and numbers went on the Harbour Bridge.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a terrible thing to say, but I didn\u2019t notice it was a bad conversation,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing a woman in law firm and investment banking \u2013 that was nothing extraordinary. You have to stand up for what you believe in.\u201d<\/p>\n That toughness often ruffled feathers, notably during negotiations with resident companies the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Opera Australia, to reduce their stage time to make way for Bangarra Dance Theatre and diversify the Opera House\u2019s offerings. Herron was once told that 80 per cent of people really liked her, 20 per cent didn\u2019t. \u201cThat\u2019s about right. If you are going to embark on the decade of renewal you can\u2019t keep the place the same,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Herron was previously in the frame for a new role spearheading sweeping changes to the state government\u2019s approach to the creative arts, after overseeing the writing of NSW Labor\u2019s new road map to reinvigorate the faltering cultural sector, which is still struggling with rising expenses and cost-of-living increases. The role to co-ordinate agencies responses didn\u2019t eventuate.<\/p>\n Related Article![\"After](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6b6f7b834a2499faf63c2cfa28db97b489efb542.jpeg\")
After 14 years, Louise Herron is leaving the Sydney Opera House.Steven Siewert<\/p>\n![\"Herron](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/62fc8c57bda62eab8f19a37670b87f28f057ba61.jpeg\")
Herron lost the battle but won the war: The Everest barrier logo and trophy projected on the sails of the Opera House in 2018.Fairfax Media<\/p>\n![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c4a118ea0efc563641235f134f42a560b26b98d5.jpeg\")
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