Sydney Opera House CEO Looks Back

Stateline

Topic: Performing Arts

Friday, August 7, 2026, at 6:28 am

Friday, August 7, 2026, at 9:58 am

Louise Herron is leaving the Sydney Opera House after 14 years, and she is emotional about it.

She says it was an honor to lead the Opera House, and she feels lucky to have had the job.

Many people who worked with her think she did a great job.

After leading the Opera House for over a decade, it is hard to find people who do not like her leadership.

Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark visited the Opera House in 2013.

People who worked with Louise Herron say she is very good at getting money for the Opera House and that she cares about people.

The government of New South Wales says her leadership was very strong, and a former minister says she was a great CEO.

Louise Herron got 120 million dollars from the government to fix the Opera House's smaller theaters.

A new person will take over as CEO.

It was not always easy for Louise Herron when she started as CEO in 2012.

She had never run a big arts organization before, but she had worked in law and business.

She said it was a big change to have 1000 employees.

Louise Herron is leaving after 14 years.

She said she listened to what the public thought about the Opera House.

Many people have opinions about the Opera House, and Louise Herron liked that.

She wanted the Opera House to be for everyone, and she called it 'everyone's house'.

She got this idea from old quotes that said the Opera House was for the people.

Louise Herron was at an event called Sunrise on the Steps.

'It cannot be a billboard'

There was a problem in 2018 when a radio host named Alan Jones wanted to put a horse racing logo on the Opera House.

Alan Jones said Louise Herron should be fired if she did not agree to put the logo on the Opera House.

Louise Herron said the Opera House cannot be used for advertising, and she did not want to put the logo on it.

Alan Jones later said sorry for how he spoke to Louise Herron, and they found a compromise.

Many people supported Louise Herron's decision not to put the logo on the Opera House.

There were 5000 people at the Opera House and 311000 people signed a petition to not put the logo on it.

It was a good thing that happened during a time of renewal.

The Opera House is one of the greatest buildings of the 20th century.

The Opera House got a 200 million dollar renovation, which was not easy to do.

They closed the concert hall in 2020, before COVID-19 started.

It was good that they could make noise during the renovation, but it was also hard because many people could not come to work.

There were international engineers and technicians working on the renovation, which was difficult.

Louise Herron met former US President Barack Obama.

Protests brought controversy to the Opera House.

In 2023, the government decided to light the Opera House in the colors of the Israeli flag.

Some people protested this decision and said antisemitic things.

Lawyers and police were concerned about safety during the protests.

Police were at the Opera House when pro-Palestinian protesters marched there in 2023.

Louise Herron said it was a difficult time for many people and communities.

The decision to light the Opera House was made by the government, and the protest was handled by the police.

Louise Herron said it is important to understand the level of risk you will take.

Paying it forward

Louise Herron was seen as an outsider when she started as CEO in 2012.

She will now teach a course on leadership at the University of Sydney.

Louise Herron wants to help young leaders because she hates seeing talented people leave organizations.

She loves working with emerging leaders to help them grow.

Louise Herron was seen in 2023.

The search for the next Opera House CEO is still in the early stages.

Louise Herron is sure the next CEO will do a good job and be true to the Opera House's values.

But she thinks the next CEO will do things differently, which is why she is leaving.

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