Olly Arkins to Exit Australian Festival Association

SYDNEY, Australia — Olly Arkins, chief executive officer of the Australian Festival Association, will depart from the trade body later this month.

AFA chair Adelle Robinson pays tribute to Arkins for leading the AFA through “one of the most consequential periods for the festival industry,” a chapter than included the fallout from the pandemic, the effects of which are still being felt by festival organizers.

Under Arkins’ leadership, the AFA has worked with members, governments and industry partners “to secure greater recognition of festivals as an essential part of Australia’s cultural infrastructure,” Robinson comments in a statement.

Arkins’ last day with the AFA is next Friday, Aug. 21. Speaking with Billboard, Arkins points to the opportunity to rewrite the Music Festivals Act in New South Wales, resulting in significant reforms passed by the state parliament in September 2024, as her “biggest achievement” in five years with the AFA.

Also, Arkins advocated for the federal government to establish and then increase Revive Live funding, including dedicated support for music festivals; helped secure the introduction of drug-checking services at music festivals in both Victoria and New South Wales; renegotiated the OneMusic licence scheme to secure improved terms for music festivals; and more.

“Olly arrived at a time when festivals were still trying to work out whether we had a future. She leaves the AFA with governments listening to our industry and festivals firmly at the table in music industry-wide advocacy,” Robinson remarks.

“She has taken the needs and aspirations of festival promoters directly to decision-makers and turned advocacy into increased funding, legislative reform and stronger working relationships with the agencies that regulate festivals.

“On behalf of the AFA board and our members, I want to thank Olly for her relentless commitment to ensuring Australia has a thriving and sustainable music festival sector.”

The AFA was unveiled in December 2018, representing festival organizers, suppliers and stakeholders across Australia’s music festival sector. Its mission, to advocate the festival industry, promoting best-practice safety and operational standards, providing a unified voice, and facilitate policy reform and investment.

Today, its members include Fuzzy, CMC Rocks, Live Nation, Hardware, Laneway, Groovin’ The Moo, Lost Paradise and many others.

“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity the AFA board gave me to advocate for our members and this remarkable industry. It has been the experience of a lifetime,” Arkins comments in a statement.

“I will always cherish the support I received from Adelle and the entire team, including the support they gave me as I transitioned during my time at the AFA.

“Together, we all made the case that festivals are major employers and tourism drivers. Importantly for me, they also give Australian artists some of their first opportunities to perform on a major stage and allow more fans to discover them.

“Festivals provide formative cultural experiences and help create lifelong music fans, benefiting the entire industry. I know this because I am one.

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past four years. Our association is stronger, the industry has an influential voice with government and in the media, and there is now a much deeper understanding of the cultural and economic value of festivals.”