(Credit: Opera Queensland)

Opera Queensland has announced the appointment of Linda Apelt as its new Board Chair.

Apelt is a long-serving Director General with the State Government of Queensland as well as a member of the Screen Queensland Chair and Company Director on several independent boards across several industries.

“Linda is highly regarded as a resourceful leader and innately skilled in devising and delivering innovative policy, building productive relationships and negotiating across government, business and community sectors,” said Opera Queensland CEO & Artistic Director Patrick Nolan in an official press statement. “Linda is joining at an exciting time for Opera Queensland and for opera as an art form across the state. We are looking forward to working with Linda on expanding our reach and delivering more innovative experiences for our audiences. I remain excited and optimistic about the future, not just of the company but of opera as an artform across Queensland, under the governance of Linda and the Opera Queensland Board.”

“I look forward to working with the Board, Patrick Nolan and the entire team at Opera Queensland to build on the solid foundations that have been laid by the leaders and artists who have acted as custodians for the company over the past 40 years. With the support of the Board and Opera Queensland’s funding bodies and partners, we will continue to grow our capacity to bring stories through song to diverse audiences across the state,” said Apelt of her appointment.

Apelt will succeed Emeritus Professor David Siddle in her new position, who is retiring at the end of 2021.