Courtney Fiddian is a cultural and organisational leader whose career has moved between the stage, the boardroom and the complex spaces in between, with a consistent focus on bringing people, ideas and organisations together to create meaningful outcomes.

As Director of Strategy & Partnerships at the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT WA), Courtney works across strategy, organisational transformation, programming and stakeholder relationships, helping to build the partnerships and conditions that enable the arts to thrive. Her approach is grounded in clarity, integrity and collaboration, with a particular strength in navigating complexity, building trust and keeping people and organisations moving towards a shared purpose.

Courtney’s career has taken her from professional dance into senior leadership roles across the arts and tertiary sectors. At Perth Festival and The University of Western Australia, she has led teams, developed strategic partnerships and worked across complex organisational and policy environments. A practising lawyer and graduate of the Leadership WA Signature Program (2024), Courtney brings a distinctive combination of creative, legal and strategic perspectives to her work.

Known for her calm and considered approach to leadership, Courtney believes that good leadership should be clear, curious and human. She is passionate about cultural sustainability, ethical accountability and creating the conditions in which artists, organisations and communities can do their best work. Whether working with government, industry or community, she brings thoughtful questions, a strong sense of purpose and a healthy appreciation for the fact that taking the work seriously does not require taking yourself too seriously.