Melbourne Writers Festival is pleased to announce that Fiona Menzies has been appointed as Interim CEO of Melbourne Writers Festival.
“Melbourne Writers Festival is delighted to have Fiona Menzies join us as CEO for the 2024 festival,” said Alice Hill, Chair of Melbourne Writers Festival. “MWF will benefit from her wealth of experience across philanthropy, partnerships and program delivery. The board is looking forward to working with Fiona.”
A prestigious leader across the arts and cultural, government, and philanthropic sectors, Fiona’s career has been shaped by a passion to help the arts sector build capacity and sustainability.
From 2013 to 2023, Fiona was CEO of Creative Partnerships Australia, a Commonwealth Government agency that strengthened the fundraising capacity of the Australian arts and cultural sector. This included managing the Australian Cultural Fund, which increased tenfold during her tenure.
Prior to this, Fiona was development manager at the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, where she was part of the inaugural team that established the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne in 2009. She has also acted as adviser to the Chief of Staff to two Commonwealth Government Arts Ministers, working across the arts and film portfolio, and introducing new measures in the taxation system to increase private sector support for the arts.
Fiona is currently a Trustee of the Gordon Darling Foundation and serves on the Board of TarraWarra Museum of Art. She has previously served on a number of arts, government and philanthropic boards and advisory boards.
“Fiona is joining MWF at a hugely exciting time, and we’re thrilled to have her expertise and steady hand guiding us as we roll out next year’s program. We can’t wait to reveal what we have in store for Melbourne audiences next May,” said Michaela McGuire, Artistic Director.
“I am so pleased to be able to take the reins from Vivia Hickman and to work with Michaela McGuire to deliver her vision for the next festival,” said Fiona Menzies. “Melbourne Writers Festival has been a highlight of Melbourne’s cultural program for many decades now and it has never been more important to engage with both local and international writers and acknowledge their invaluable contribution to our community.”
The 2024 Melbourne Writers Festival will take place 6–12 May.