Lissa Twomey is Executive Director, Major Performing Arts and National Engagement at the Australia Council for the Arts and the former Festival Director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival and Associate Director of Sydney Festival. She was instrumental in setting up the inaugural Wellington Jazz Festival and has extensive multi-arts experience and knowledge of international and Australian arts and culture. Lissa has worked for more than 20 years in the arts industry in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Whilst Lissa trained as a classical pianist, she is driven by her passion as an arts administrator to work with artists and organisations to realise their artistic goals and ambitions.