Overview
- Lisa Havilah, who led the $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta project since 2018, stepped down following official notices of ongoing investigations into the museum’s governance and procurement.
- The Office of the Minister for Arts named NSW government architect Abbie Galvin as interim CEO and former Sydney Opera House boss Louise Herron as strategic adviser, both due to start on September 1.
- The Department of Creative Industries described the situation as complex with multiple lines of inquiry and said the investigations are continuing with no formal findings released.
- Powerhouse Trust chair David Borger called the departure challenging and not ideal so close to the opening, while officials and trustees say the November 7 public opening is expected to proceed.
- The move follows earlier political scrutiny this year over project spending and contracts, and the inquiry and leadership change could affect future budget oversight and procurement review for large public cultural projects.