Qtopia Sydney: Chief Executive Officer
Michael Barnett OAM
Chief Executive Officer
Job description
About Us
Qtopia Sydney is Australia’s home of LGBTQIA+ history and culture — a vibrant museum, cultural centre and community hub dedicated to preserving stories, amplifying voices and championing inclusion. Through exhibitions, performance, education, and community programming, Qtopia Sydney celebrates the resilience, creativity and activism of LGBTQIA+ communities while contributing to contemporary dialogue and social change.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Qtopia Sydney is focused on long-term sustainability, deep community engagement, and the continued development of its physical site as a landmark cultural destination.
As the world's largest Centre for Queer History and Culture, located in the heart of Darlinghurst at the reclaimed former Darlinghurst Police Station. An ACNC registered charity, Qtopia Sydney brings LGBTQIA+ stories to life through world-class exhibitions, live performances, education programs, and community initiatives. Having established a remarkable foundation under its founding CEO, Qtopia Sydney is now seeking a visionary leader to drive its next chapter — expanding its cultural impact and education offerings; growing philanthropic partnerships and ensuring vital community stories continue to be told and celebrated for generations to come.
About the Role
The Qtopia Sydney CEO role is challenging, energising, and deeply rewarding. It demands ownership of both artistic and commercial success, while offering the rare chance to lead a globally recognised organisation, working collaboratively with the Board and seeking guidance from Australian trailblazers and Qtopia Sydney Patrons Michael Kirby AC CMG and Ita Buttrose AC OBE. It is also the opportunity to continue the vision of Professor David Cooper AC and the legacy of his friend, patient and Emeritus Chair of Qtopia Sydney, David Polson AM.
If you can bring hands-on experience, commercial acumen, and the drive to deliver exceptional outcomes within tight financial constraints then this could be the role for you.
Our People
The small team at Qtopia Sydney are dedicated, passionate, hardworking and continue to strive for, and deliver excellence in all that they do. Most have been there since inception, rolling their sleeves up to tackle the toughest of jobs to ensure the success of Qtopia Sydney. They look to the CEO for the type of leadership that encourages collaboration, inclusion and supports them to flourish within their roles and beyond.
Primary purpose of the role
Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall strategic leadership, operational management and financial sustainability of Qtopia Sydney.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead organisational strategy and growth, working closely with the Board to deliver long-term sustainability.
- Champion Qtopia Sydney’s mission and purpose, innovation, and measurable impact.
- Lead the development and implementation of Qtopia Sydney’s strategic and business planning framework, ensuring delivery of measurable outcomes.
- Oversee and manage the day to day operations and monitor performance against budgets and plans.
- Manage major projects of work.
- Build Qtopia’s reputation as a premier arts and cultural organisation in Australia.
- Build strong relationships and influential partnerships across community, government, corporate, philanthropic and community sectors.
- Oversee and manage governance, compliance, and risk management practices, fit for purpose for a non-for-profit organisation.
- Drive diverse revenue streams, including grants, sponsorships, and commercial initiatives.
- Lead a values and performance based organisational culture aligned to Qtopia Sydney’s mission and values.
- Lead, inspire and manage a high-performing team, fostering accountability, inclusion and professional growth.
- Act as spokesperson and represent Qtopia Sydney, establishing and maintaining positive stakeholder relationships with the LGBTQI+ communities, Government, arts sector, and broader communities, both nationally and internationally.
What we offer
- The rare opportunity to lead the world’s largest centre dedicated to LGBTQIA+ history, culture and storytelling.
- A platform to shape the national and international conversation around inclusion, education and queer history exhibitions, performances, advocacy and public speaking.
- The chance to build the long-term sustainability of an iconic Australian institution.
- A passionate Board, team, volunteers and community who deeply believe in the mission.
- The freedom to bring bold ideas, partnerships and revenue strategies to life.
- A visible leadership role engaging with government, philanthropy, corporate partners and the media.
- The opportunity to expand programs that educate thousands of students and visitors each year and are assisting to save lives.
- A supportive and values-driven organisational culture.
- The chance to leave a lasting cultural legacy.
- To deliver new exhibition spaces in our Stage 2 building renovation.
- Expand our ambassador program with national identities.
- The rare chance to collaborate with and seek guidance from Australian trailblazers Michael Kirby AC CMG and Ita Buttrose AC OBE.
- To continue the vision of Professor David Cooper AC and the legacy of his friend and patient of 40 years, David Polson AM.
- Competitive salary package in the range of $190k and flexible working arrangements.
About You
You are a purpose-driven executive leader with senior experience in not-for-profit environments and a demonstrated commitment to arts, culture and community impact.
You bring:
- Proven CEO or senior executive experience, ideally within a not-for-profit, arts or cultural organisation.
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, reporting and long-term sustainability planning.
- Demonstrated success in grant writing, fundraising and revenue diversification.
- Experience liaising with government and navigating public funding environments.
- A track record of compliance, governance and contract management oversight.
- Experience setting and monitoring KPIs and reporting transparently to a Board.
- Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging media and representing an organisation publicly.
- Strong advocacy skills and the ability to articulate a compelling case for support.
- Demonstrated ability to lead high performing teams with clarity, empathy and accountability.
- Ideally, experience in property management or capital development projects.
You are both strategic and hands-on, capable of operating in a fast-moving environment where systems continue to evolve. You combine commercial discipline with cultural sensitivity and bring the resilience and confidence required to lead a high-profile organisation through complexity and growth.
Relevant tertiary qualifications in business, arts management, governance or a related field are highly regarded.
Right to Work
Only those candidates who have the Right to Work in Australia will be eligible for this role.
Next Steps
To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are, how we work and how we live our values. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations and gender identities. We are committed to providing an equitable and barrier free recruitment experience for all.
We would also like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work, the Gadigal lands of the people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and acknowledge these lands were never ceded.
Job Summary
- Competitive salary package in the range of $190k and flexible working arrangements.
- Applications close: 5:00 PM AEDT, 20th Mar 2026
- Job posted on: 27th Feb 2026
- Sydney > Darlinghurst