Tara MacLeod was appointed Acting CEO of Adelaide Fringe in January 2026. She is an experienced executive leader with a strong track record leading complex, high-profile cultural and sporting organisations and high-performing teams.

Tara joined Adelaide Fringe in 2021 as Head of Operations, where she played a key role in organisational leadership and the delivery of Australia’s largest open-access arts festival. Prior to this, she was Head of Development, Events and Operations at the Adelaide Film Festival, leading organisational development, major events, operational delivery and strategic projects across the festival.

Earlier in her career, Tara held senior executive roles at Port Adelaide Football Club, including General Manager – Game Day & Events and General Manager – Strategic Projects, where she led large-scale event delivery and complex organisational initiatives.

In addition to her extensive experience delivering major events, Tara brings deep expertise in governance, financial management and human resources. She is a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion and is committed to creating inclusive, sustainable organisations and experiences.

Joining the Board of Restless Dance Theatre felt like a very natural alignment for me. Much of my work has centred around creating environments where access, representation and belonging are genuinely embedded—not treated as secondary considerations. I strongly believe the arts play a critical role in building connection, challenging perspectives and ensuring diverse voices are seen and celebrated. Restless’ commitment to inclusivity, creativity and artistic excellence deeply resonates with both my personal values and the way I approach leadership.

Work with Restless:

• Board Member 2026 – Present