Works with students and the University’s performing arts community to foster creativity and develop future talent, collaborate with local and international creative industry partners, and open the vibrant University performing arts experience to the wider community.
Ms Virginia Lovett is the inaugural Director of Performing Arts at the University of Melbourne. Prior to this she was the Executive Director and Co-CEO of Melbourne Theatre Company and Executive Director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. A highly experienced and well-respected cultural leader, she successfully designed a range of strategic initiatives through her roles at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney Festival, Zoos Victoria, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Theatre Company and the National Gallery of Victoria. She has also worked as an advisor for State Ministers in Victoria and New South Wales. Appointed since September 2022, she is currently a Trustee of the Melbourne Convention Centre.
In 2006 she was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and is a graduate of the Museum Leadership program. Ms Lovett is currently the President of Arts Project Australia, an Executive Council member of Live Performance Australia and a member of the City of Melbourne’s Night-time Economy Advisory panel. She has held the position of Chair for Arena Theatre, LPA’s Theatre Panel for Live Performance Australia and Force Majeure; as well serving on the boards of Committee for Melbourne, Craft Victoria and Legs on the Wall. For the past five years she has been a mentor for the Australia Council Emerging Leaders Course, Teach for Australia and the Council for Museum Directors.