Mission Statement
Our aims are to make festivals safer for patrons and reduce friction between festival promoters and regulatory bodies, by aligning evidence-based practices and decades of combined industry experience with the requirements of government policy.
We are also committed to ensuring the ongoing viability of festivals as thriving businesses, significant municipal events and sites of global cultural exchange in the interest of all Australians.
Achievements
Since the launch of the AFA in 2018, we have been hard at work for our members.
We briefed Senior Counsel in the Coronial Inquest into the six deaths at music festivals (over 2018-19 summer) as an interested party to ensure the industry was represented.
We co-chair the legislated NSW Music Festival Roundtable with equal Government and Industry representatives, providing a forum for members to engage with regulatory agencies.
We appeared to give evidence at numerous Senate Committee hearing into COVID-19 and the new National Cultural Policy.
Alongside the Australian Music Industry Network, we launched the ilostmygig website in early 2020, receiving 12,000 submissions in just over 4 weeks.
We are a member of the Executive Committee of the Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) established during covid to represent live music, sport and large stadiums and arenas.
We received NSW Health funding to develop Harm Minimisation Training programs for festival staff, suppliers and patrons – www.partysafe.com.au
We delivered a $25 million economic recovery package for festivals in New South Wales after the 2021 NSW lockdown.
We delivered a $12 million economic recovery package for festivals in Victoria after the 2021 Victorian lockdown.
We fought to ensure festivals could access RISE and Live Music Australia funding from the Federal Office for the Arts.
We advocated for government covid insurance schemes delivered in NSW, Victoria and by the Commonwealth.
We delivered bipartisan commitments at the 2023 NSW election to bring forward a review into the NSW Music Festivals Act.
We achieved the inclusion of the first ever national music festival research project by the Australia Council in Revive: the new National Cultural Policy of the Commonwealth Government.
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) was formed to represent the shared interests of the Australian festival industry. The AFA is committed to delivering safe and well-run festivals around Australia and providing a framework for best-practice industry operating standards.
The AFA continues to do this by:
Connecting festival industry professionals with stakeholders and regulatory bodies
Proactively working with regulatory bodies on behalf of the festival industry
Recognising the cultural contribution festivals make to Australian society and upholding the reputation of music festivals in Australia and internationally
Developing ‘best practice’ across all member events
Representing the festival industry in the media
The AFA membership comprises of stakeholders in the festival industry from multiple sectors, including:
Promoters
Producers
Cultural organisations
Councils
Operators including production management, site management, bar operators, venues, medical management, security companies
The Australia Festival Association will work to:
Maintain an established organisation that can work with regulatory bodies on behalf of the festival industry
Provide an organisation that is accessible for all stakeholders and industry
Develop ‘best practice’ across all platforms
Represent the Industry to the media
AFA Board
Adelle Robinson
(She/Her)
Chair
Managing Director, Fuzzy Operations
Adelle Robinson is a proud Wiradurji woman. As Managing Director of Fuzzy Operations Adelle has over 20 years experience producing some of Australia largest festivals including Field Day, Harbourlife, Listen Out, Listen In, Groovin’ the Moo and Shore Thing.
Jess Ducrou
(She/Her)
Deputy Chair
Jess Ducrou is the former co-CEO of Secret Sounds and founder of Australia’s most iconic festivals including Splendour in The Grass, Falls Music and Arts Festival and Harvest Rock.
Jess is also Chair of the NSW Government’s Sound NSW Advisory Board.
Jacqui Elmas
(She/Her)
Secretary
General Counsel, Frontier Touring and CMC Rocks Festival
Jacqui is currently General Counsel, Frontier Touring where she works across both the touring and festival businesses.
Chris Reid
(He/Him)
Treasurer
Partner, EY
Chris is Partner within EY’s Assurance Division (Audit), and has provided professional services at EY for over 23 years. Chris a passionate live music fan, regular attendee of music festivals, and brings his financial experience to the AFA Committee.
Denis Sheahan
(He/Him)
Director, Greenfield Events
Denis Sheahan – event manager with three decades of experience in the event industry. His current clients are some of the largest arts & music events in Australia with a strong focus on consultation.
Diane Sneddon
(She/Her)
Senior Events Manager, City of Port Phillip
With over 25 years of events experience, Di Sneddon combines a very hands-on background of managing events with her current role as an Event Manager at the City of Port Phillip.
Harley Evans
(He/Him)
Managing Director, Moshtix
Harley is Managing Director of Moshtix Australia and New Zealand, with 20+ years in live events. He is a passionate advocate for the live entertainment industry, and Moshtix has been a proud supporter of many of Australia’s peak music bodies over the last 10 years.
Jessie Parker
(She/Her)
General Manager (ANZ), Laneway Festival
Jessie Parker manages Laneway Festival, which tours six cities across Australia and New Zealand in partnership with TEG Live and has over 15 years’ experience in the live entertainment industry.
Kat Dopper
(She/Her)
Founder & Director, Heaps Gay
Kat Dopper is the Founder and Director of Heaps Gay, Australia’s largest Independent LGBTQIA+ events organization which focuses on creating safe and inclusive events & festivals around Australia.
Zack Alcott
(He/Him)
Co-Executive General Manager, Get Skilled Access
Zack leads Get Skilled Access, sits on the board of the Dylan Alcott Foundation and also manages Ability Fest – Australia’s first inclusive music festival.
Staff
Mitch Wilson
(They/Them)
Managing Director
Mitch Wilson
(They/Them)
Managing Director
Governance
The Australian Festival Association Ltd is a public company limited by guarantee registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and governed according to the 2022 AFA Constitution.
National
Results of the National Arts Participation Survey (2020)
Phase 3 – COVID-19 Audience Outlook Monitor – Australian Snapshot Report: September 2020
What is Harm Reduction and Why is it Important at Music Venues and Events (2019)
Thesis: Understanding the Social Impacts of Festivals on Communities (2007)
Safety, Sexual Harassment and Assault at Australian Music Festivals Report (2018)
Live Performance Australia – Ticketing Report (2018)
Drug Free Australia – MDMA: Eight Central Issues for the Australian Greens (2019)
Australian Capital Territory
Australian National University – ACT Pill Testing Trial: Program Evaluation (2019)
Pill Testing Australia – Report on the Second ACT GTM Pill Testing Pilot: A Harm Reduction Service (2019)
Founding Member Festivals
CMC Rocks QLD
Download Festival
Falls Festival
Field Day
Groovin The Moo
Harbourlife
Listen Out
Splendour In The Grass
