Former AFA CEO Olly Arkins Elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney

Former Australian Festival Association (AFA) CEO Olly Arkins has been elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney. 

The first-term Labor councillor was unanimously elected to the position, marking the latest chapter for Arkins following four years at the helm of the AFA. She wrapped up her tenure as CEO at the end of August. 

She has made history with her election, being the first opening trans person to serve as Sydney's Deputy Lord Mayor. 

Arkins has already signalled that Sydney’s live music and entertainment sector will form part of her priorities in the new role, including progressing Special Entertainment Precincts and finding a permanent home for independent community station FBi Radio. 

“I ran for Council because I have lived in Sydney at its best; fun, welcoming, diverse and affordable,” Arkins said. “I have also lived it at its worst; lockout laws, eye-watering rents and policing policies that attempted to put music festivals out of business.”

Her other priorities include affordable housing and bringing more council services in-house rather than relying on for-profit contractors. 

Arkins concluded her four-year stint leading the AFA in August, during which the organisation advocated for Australia’s festival sector through a period of rising costs, regulatory pressures, changing audience behaviour and the cancellation of major events. 

During her tenure, the AFA was involved in a number of policy and funding developments, including advocacy around drug-checking initiatives at festivals in NSW and Victoria. Last month, AFA Chair Adelle Robinson credited Arkins with strengthening the sector’s relationship with government. 

“Olly arrived at a time when festivals were still trying to work out whether we had a future. She leaves the AFA with governments listening to our industry and festivals firmly at the table in music industry-wide advocacy,” Robinson said.

“She has taken the needs and aspirations of festival promoters directly to decision-makers and turned advocacy into increased funding, legislative reform and stronger working relationships with the agencies that regulate festivals.”

Arkins was succeeded as AFA CEO by Lizzie Butterworth, whose appointment took effect in August.