Lynne Williams has announced her intention to step down at the end of 2016 as NIDA Director/CEO after more than eight years at the helm of Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art.
Since her appointment as Director/CEO in May 2008, Lynne has led a period of significant change for what continues to be Australia’s leading education and training institution for the dramatic arts. Lynne brought more than four decades of arts and cultural sector experience and an entrepreneurial approach that fostered government, commercial and not-for-profit partnerships and a renewal of NIDA’s ability to compete in the rapidly changing world of arts and culture.
Chair of NIDA’s Board of Directors Jennifer Bott AO says Lynne Williams has been a visionary leader during her time as Director of NIDA. “Lynne leaves an extraordinary legacy in both artistic and educational achievements and contemporary infrastructure to support the highest levels of teaching and learning.”
“With great skill and leadership, Lynne has implemented an innovative program to ensure that generations of creative leaders continue to enrich Australia’s cultural life. Amongst a long list of milestones, I would particularly highlight the newly launched Graduate School. Lynne successfully took this from vision to planning to reality!”
Lynne Williams says that she has greatly enjoyed her time as Director/CEO and looks forward to watching NIDA continue to flourish.
“It has been wonderful working with the NIDA community to create an institution that is recognised internationally as one of the world’s best for aspiring creative professionals.”
“Five years ago we mapped out a bold vision for a reinvigorated National Institute of Dramatic Art. We challenged ourselves to imagine the future demands of the global arts and entertainment industries and the role that NIDA would play in educating and training the future leaders of those industries.”
“The opening of our new Graduate School last weekend is an example of just how far we’ve come, and a sign of the potential still to be explored for this wonderful institution. It’s an honour to have been a part of NIDA’s evolution.”
“I would like to thank the NIDA Board and the NIDA Foundation Trust, our dedicated staff and hard-working students, as well as NIDA’s broader community of donors and friends and my many colleagues throughout the arts and entertainment industry for their unwavering support,” Ms Williams added.
NIDA is recognised as one of the leading arts training institutions in the world, offering, in addition to graduate and undergraduate degrees, a range of vocational, corporate and public programs. Alumni include Robyn Nevin, Mel Gibson, Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Cate Blanchett and more recently Kip Williams, Sarah Snook, Joel Jackson, Kurt Phelan, Miranda Tapsell and Ryan Corr to name a few.
An international search will be conducted over the coming months and the new Director/CEO is expected to be announced in mid-2016. Ms Williams will continue to lead NIDA until the end of 2016.
