Powerhouse Parramatta CEO Lisa Havilah has stepped aside from her role just 10 weeks before the cultural institution's scheduled opening in Western Sydney.

The decision was announced on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in a statement from the office of Minister for Arts John Graham. The statement indicated that Ms. Havilah stood aside while "investigations into governance and procurement" were underway.

A spokesperson for the Department of Creative Industries told ABC that the matters were "complex and involve multiple lines of inquiry." The spokesperson added, "The Department has a responsibility to address these matters with due diligence and procedural fairness."

President of the Powerhouse Trust, David Borger, described the announcement as coming at a challenging time, saying, "I think obviously, it's challenging…these things are always somewhat surprising." He also confirmed that the museum's opening would proceed as planned, stating, "A 100 per cent the curtains are going to rise on the November 7….and there's no changing that."

Earlier in August, Ms. Havilah expressed eagerness to attend the opening. She noted that Ms. Wilkinson is currently acting in the COO role and continuing the work, describing her as "a great member of the team."

As the investigation continues with no formal findings or conclusions yet, further comments have been withheld.

Sources