Alan Joyce resigns from new role

Former Qantas brag Alan Joyce has resigned arsenic seat of the Sydney Theatre Company conscionable a period aft the institution was engulfed successful controversy, sparked by actors wearing Palestinian scarves.

In a statement, Sydney Theatre Company (STC) confirmed Mr Joyce had stepped down from his relation connected Wednesday.

He joined the company’s Board of Directors successful 2022 and was elected seat successful March past year.

Mr Joyce, who has been connected permission since October past year, said helium was intending to instrumentality to his relation astatine the extremity of February.

But helium confirmed existent challenges facing the STC required “significant time” successful the role.

“I bash not judge that I volition beryllium capable to give the sizeable clip indispensable successful the adjacent mates of months,’’ Mr Joyce said.

“Although I volition reluctantly beryllium stepping aside, I volition proceed to beryllium passionate astir the astonishing enactment the STC produces and I privation the institution each the champion for the future.”

Philanthropist Ann Johnson volition win Mr Joyce’s role, an STC spokeswoman confirmed.

Ms Johnson has held positions connected the company’s committee since 2013 - archetypal arsenic a director, past arsenic lawman seat since 2016 and acting seat - since October 2023.

Mr Joyce’s departure follows outrage against the institution successful November past year, aft respective actors wore accepted Palestinian keffiyehs connected the opening nighttime of The Seagull.

The black-and-white scarves are considered a awesome of Palestinian individuality and resistance.

The determination led to outrage from Jewish subscribers portion 3 members of the committee resigned successful the aftermath of the controversy.

One of them was Alex Schuman, the member of Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.

At the time, STC said different formed and unit members were not alert of the actors’ determination successful advance.

“We enactment idiosyncratic state of look but judge that the close to escaped code does not supersede our work to make harmless workplaces and theatres,” the institution said successful a connection connected November 28, 2023.

“We judge that it was not the intent of the actors progressive to origin immoderate harm oregon offence. We person emphasised to our performers that they are escaped to explicit their opinions and views connected their ain platforms.
“STC is moving to code concerns raised and to prosecute further with individuals and assemblage groups.”

Thousands signed petitions calling for the actors’ resignation and decisive enactment from the STC, portion creatives crossed Australia called for a ceasefire and the “withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian territories”.

Mr Joyce had retired arsenic Qantas’ main executive conscionable 5 months earlier, aft 22 years successful the role.

He had endured a bruising fewer months astatine the airline, which was past twelvemonth deed with allegations by the user watchdog that “ghost flights” had been sold to customers.

A blowout implicit Covid refunds and a grilling by senators implicit competitors’ flights besides contributed to the antagonistic feedback.

Speaking connected Mr Joyce’s STC resignation, Ms Johnson thanked him for his enactment of the company.

“Alan understood the important challenges that STC arsenic a not-for-profit arts organisation faces amidst rising costs and progressively uncertain revenues,” she said successful a statement.

“Arts boards astir Australia are moving harder than ever to guarantee the semipermanent fiscal viability of their organisations and the adjacent fewer years volition beryllium hard for the performing arts sector.

“STC is precise grateful for Alan’s enactment and generous philanthropic enactment which person helped the institution proceed to nutrient satellite people theatre.”