Ex-AFA CEO Olly Arkins Appointed Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney

SYDNEY, Australia — Olly Arkins, former chief executive officer of the Australian Festival Association, is the new deputy lord mayor for the City of Sydney.

Arkins was unanimously voted to the role this week, two years after election to the City of Sydney Council. With this appointment, Arkins becomes the first openly trans deputy mayor of Australia’s most populous city.

“I ran for Council because I have lived in Sydney at its best; fun, welcoming, diverse and affordable. 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,” she said in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“I’m ready to get to work on making Sydney a city that’s easy and enjoyable to live in, and one people around the world are desperate to visit.”

A lifelong Sydneysider, Arkins’ work has included advocating for special entertainment precincts, investing in affordable housing, supporting the city’s LGBTQIA+ community, and backing such landmark events as Yabun and Mardi Gras.

Arkins exited the AFA last month, ending a five-year stint with the association. Speaking with Billboard, Arkins identified the opportunity to rewrite the Music Festivals Act in New South Wales, resulting in reforms passed by the state parliament in September 2024, as her “biggest achievement” with the AFA.

While leading the trade body, Arkins advocated for the federal government to establish and then increase Revive Live funding, including dedicated support for music festivals; helped secure the introduction of drug-checking services at music festivals in both Victoria and New South Wales; renegotiated the OneMusic licence scheme to secure improved terms for music festivals; and more.

She also serves as deputy chair of the cultural, creative and nightlife committee, and co-chair of the creative and nightlife advisory panel, and is a board member of local government New South Wales. Two years ago, in September 2024, Arkins proudly became the first trans councillor to be elected to the City of Sydney.