Olly Arkins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Festival Association, will step down from the role at the end of August, AFA Chair Adelle Robinson has announced.
Arkins has led the AFA through one of the most tumultuous periods for the music festival industry in Australia, with the COVID-19 pandemic and following inflation greatly impacting costs to host festivals and punters’ spending habits.
Some of her greatest achievements have included advocating for the federal government to introduce and then increase its Revive Live funding, including dedicated support for music festivals and leading the charge to rewrite and reform festival legislation in NSW.
Additionally, Arkins secured new funding opportunities for festivals via the NSW and Victorian governments, helped secure the establishment of pill-testing services at music festivals, delivered national research into the industry, improved terms for festivals via the renegotiated OneMusic licence scheme, and boosted the AFA’s voice in national and state policy discussions.
While Arkins is set to depart from the CEO role soon, further information about the AFA’s leadership transition will be announced shortly.
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In a statement, Arkins discussed the privilege of being an important voice for music festivals in Australia. “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 said.
She continued, “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.”
Arkins also reflected on what festivals offer to punters. “Festivals provide formative cultural experiences and help create lifelong music fans, benefiting the entire industry. I know this because I am one,” she said.
Her statement concluded, “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.”
Adelle Robinson added, “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.
“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.”
