Executive Director
Brendan Ross
Brendan has 30 years of experience as an arts producer, festival curator, stage director, business leader, and cultural and environmental advocate in Australia and USA. His artistic and business experience spans leadership roles in theatre, music, opera, dance, broadcasting, youth, and concert production. His work in the cultural and environmental fields includes museums, libraries, galleries, public art, and environmental programs, including interpretation, public programs, and visitor experience, as well as Indigenous and cultural policy and programs.
Most recently Brendan headed up the Arts & Culture Division for the City of Tempe, Arizona, USA. In this role he led teams responsible for managing performing arts, public art, history, and community arts programs, services and infrastructure. He also forged a new resident partnership with the state’s Arizona Theatre Company, and collaborated on the development of Tempe’s first Indigenous cultural policy. He also partnered with civic stakeholders to advance the role of arts and culture in areas such as sustainability, parks, recreation, tourism, economic development, infrastructure and planning.
Brendan also brings more than 15 years of experience working at the Queensland Cultural Centre (Australia), with the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and State Library of Queensland. Roles include Festival Director, Executive Partnerships Manager, Producer, and Stage Director. Accomplishments include curation of the award winning Out of the Box Festival for early childhood, producing the largest community partnership undertaken by the Royal Ballet internationally, and founding producer of the state’s largest community choir. He also brings experience in management of a portfolio of partners, sponsors and donors for QPAC’s International Series and State Library of Queensland’s Signature Program.
As an independent artist and cultural producer, Brendan has also worked with many leading organizations such as Opera Australia, Brisbane Festival, Queensland Music Festival, Queensland Theatre Company, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Opera Queensland, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Out of the Box Festival and theStage X Festival. Other roles include Associate Artist at the Queensland Theatre Company, and Artistic Director &CEO of youth arts organizations Urban Myth and Backbone Youth Arts. He has also produced and directed live entertainment for two national Australian TV networks as well as producing a live satellite simulcast of the La Scala Ballet for Australian screening.
He is an alumnus of the Asialink Business Leaders Program (University of Melbourne), recipient of both the Sir Edward ‘weary’ Dunlop and the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Fellowships, and alumnus of the Australia Council's Leadership Development Program. University qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University), graduation with distinction in Master of Fine Arts (Queensland University of Technology), and the Dean’s List prize for a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management (University of New South Wales). Awards include QUT Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence (for innovative and creative community partnership), Queensland Multicultural Awards (government category), and City Messenger Light Year Award (Best Director).
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