Following a rigorous national and international search, Opera Australia (OA) has announced the appointment of Amy Lane as Director of Opera, completing OA’s senior leadership recruitment and marking a defining moment in the company’s 70th anniversary year.
Amy joins OA from a successful seven-year tenure as Artistic Director of the Copenhagen Opera Festival and prior to that, as Head Staff Director at The Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden.
Amy’s career spans major opera houses and festivals across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America. She has previously worked with OA as Revival Director for Kasper Holten’s celebrated production of Szymanowski’s King Roger, performed in Melbourne and Sydney.
With Chief Executive Officer Alex Budd, and Music Director Andrea Battistoni, Amy forms a senior leadership team of complementary expertise, united by a shared commitment to artistic excellence and a clear ambition to strengthen OA’s standing within the global operatic landscape.
“Amy is one of the most compelling leaders of her generation in the opera world. Her international work as a stage director, combined with her strong relationships with executive and artistic producers, singers, directors and designers, uniquely positions her to shape OA’s ambitious artistic plans for the future,” said Opera Australia’s CEO Alex Budd.
“I am delighted Amy is joining our team. Her deep knowledge of the artform, strategic insight and proven collaborative leadership will significantly strengthen our vision and drive our next chapter with confidence.”
Bringing extensive strategic planning and administrative experience from major opera houses, Amy will guide OA’s long-term artistic strategy and shape repertoire planning and production.
Amy will work in close collaboration with the Music Director, CEO and executive team, driving the company’s artist engagement, commissioning and cultivating of relationships with both Australian and international co-producers. She will also bring her extensive experience in audience development and community engagement to ensure opera becomes more accessible to more people.
“Opera Australia is a company with extraordinary artists working across all disciplines and a distinctive national voice. I am excited by the scale of its ambition and its appetite for bold and innovative work, led essentially by strong narratives and vibrant storytelling,” said Ms Lane.
“My wish is that together, we can create productions that both matter and inspire great artistic conversations – work that honours the extraordinary and much-loved canon, while speaking clearly to contemporary audiences. I look forward to building that future with Alex, Andrea and the outstanding teams at OA.”
An innovative and highly respected artistic leader, Amy’s achievements were recognised when Copenhagen Opera Festival received the 2025 Oper! Award for Best Future Project, one of Europe’s most respected opera honours.
During her tenure in Copenhagen, she expanded the festival into a globally connected platform for new work and reimagined repertoire, forging international collaborations, artist and visitor programs, and major productions across both traditional and unconventional spaces.
The Director of Opera appointment completes a leadership structure designed to strengthen OA’s position as a company of national and international relevance: one that honours the depth of the operatic canon while pursuing new creative horizons and deepening its relationship with audiences, artists and partners.
Amy Lane commences with OA in September 2026.
For more information about Opera Australia, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Amy Lane – photo by Peter Westrup