Liz Hughes.
Liz Hughes has been appointed the new CEO of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
Hughes joins NIDA from the University of New South Wales, where she was director creative enterprise UNSW Art and Design. Prior to that, Hughes worked at AFTRS for nine years as director partnerships and development and director AFTRS Open.
The school’s board is said to have selected Hughes based on her experience based on cultural programming, media industries, emerging technologies, and industry-linked creative education. Jenny Bott has been acting CEO since the departure of Kate Cherry in October 2018,
NIDA chair Noel Staunton said: “NIDA is one of our best export brands when you think of the impact and connections our alumni have gifted Australia. After seven years of leadership of NIDA Jenny Bott as chair and currently CEO leaves NIDA in mid-December in excellent shape and Liz Hughes will build on the contemporary and collaborative strength of NIDA”
“As we roll into the third decade of this century, the pace of change and opportunity for NIDA students must be seized, and in Liz we have a very capable and experienced leader with first rate and first-hand experience in building greater relevance. At AFTRS she led the phenomenal growth of the Open Program and at UNSW she has been driving the Sydney Culture Network, undertaking business development to amplify creative technology research and bridging relationships between the university, industry and government.’
Hughes said: “I’m thrilled to lead NIDA and to build on its global reputation for educating generations of performers, creative leaders and storytellers. NIDA has been pivotal in creating and bringing to life our stories on stage, screens of all sizes and at live events. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to work with a talented team, the incredible alumni, an impressive Board, strategic partners and the next generation of creators exploring the gamut of the performing arts in all its guises.”
NIDA will soon appoint an Artistic Director to work jointly with Hughes.