Kate Donnelly

Kate Donnelly
She/Her
Senior Program Manager, Adelaide Festival

I’m the Senior Program Manager at Adelaide Festival, but my journey began with a Bachelor of Cultural Tourism and an industry certificate in Festival & Event Design & Management from Flinders University. These studies gave me a strong foundation and led to early volunteer experiences at Woodford Folk Festival and Bundaleer Forest Concert.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of producing major international works for festivals including the Abu Dhabi Festival, OzAsia Festival, and Adelaide Festival. My career has spanned artist services, production, site coordination, marketing, ticketing, volunteer coordination, and sponsorship—giving me a holistic understanding of how festivals come together.

I didn’t always know what I wanted to do in the arts—I just knew I loved festivals. Exploring different roles helped me discover where I thrive and deepened my appreciation for the collaborative nature of events.

Much of what I’ve learned has come through hands-on experience: taking on challenges, working with brilliant teams, and sometimes just diving in headfirst. I’ve found that volunteering in a variety of roles is one of the best ways to build knowledge, confidence, and connections—many of which I still value today.

Early on, I juggled short-term contracts and non-arts jobs to stay afloat, but persistence pays off. Diversifying your skills, staying flexible, and showing genuine passion for the work sets you up for a long and rewarding career in the arts.

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This article is part of the Festival & Event Industry Career Profiles series, a collection highlighting the diverse stories of Adelaide’s finest festival professionals. 

Photography by: Jack Fenby