Olly Arkins to Step Down as CEO of Australian Festival Association

Olly Arkins, the Australian Festival Association’s (AFA) chief executive officer, will leave the post at the end of August, bringing to a close a four‑year tenure that the organisation describes as “one of the most consequential periods in the festival industry’s history.”

The decision was announced by AFA Chair Adelle Robinson on Tuesday. Robinson explained that Arkins entered the role at a time when festivals were still charting a post‑COVID‑19 future, amid rising production costs, a tightening labour market, changing audience expectations, extreme weather events and the loss of high‑profile events such as Splendour in the Grass.

During Arkins’ leadership, the AFA secured a number of policy and funding victories. The association successfully lobbied for pill‑testing and drug‑checking trials in New South Wales and Victoria. Arkins framed drug‑checking services as harm‑reduction tools that provide lifesaving information rather than encouraging drug use, a stance that helped build support for the trials.

Robinson praised Arkins’ advocacy, saying he “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.” She added that the AFA now has a stronger voice with governments and the media.

In a personal statement, Arkins called the role “the experience of a lifetime.” He thanked the AFA board for the opportunity to represent members and the industry, noting that festivals are major employers and tourism drivers. He also highlighted that festivals give Australian artists early opportunities to perform on a major stage and allow more fans to discover them.

The AFA board said it would provide further details on the organisation’s leadership transition shortly.

The AFA was founded in 2018 by five of the country’s largest music festival promoters in response to a perceived “war on music festivals” launched by former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian. The association represents the common interests and aspirations of the Australian festival industry and works to help members deliver safe and well‑run festivals.

Arkins’ departure comes as the Australian festival scene is cautiously optimistic about 2026. According to reports, the sector has faced a series of challenges but is beginning to recover, with festivals returning to venues such as Sydney’s Woolloomooloo and other locations.

The AFA’s advocacy work has also included support for drug‑checking services such as CanTEST, the first fixed‑site pill‑testing service in Australia. CanTEST began operations in July 2022 and has been renewed for continuous operation until at least June 2027.

The AFA’s board and leadership team have not yet named a successor. The association will likely seek a candidate with experience in festival advocacy, government relations and industry operations.

Arkins’ four‑year term saw the AFA move from a reactive posture to a proactive voice in policy discussions. The organisation’s influence expanded to include negotiations with state governments, funding bodies and regulatory agencies.

The Australian festival industry remains a key part of the country’s cultural and economic landscape, with events such as Laneway, Splendour in the Grass and other regional festivals drawing large audiences and supporting local economies.

The AFA’s leadership transition will be closely watched by promoters, artists and government officials who rely on the association’s advocacy to shape the future of festivals in Australia.

The AFA board has confirmed that further information about the leadership change will be released in the coming weeks, but no immediate successor has been announced.

The Australian Festival Association’s next steps will involve identifying a new CEO who can continue the organisation’s work in securing funding, influencing policy and supporting the industry’s growth.