Kylie Thane

Kylie Thane
She/Her
Producer, Outdoor Programs | Adelaide Festival Centre

Although I’d dabbled in events for over 20 years, I spent most of that time working in finance and administration. It wasn’t until moving to Adelaide in 2011 and volunteering for a free ticket that I discovered a real passion for creative events and festivals. That small step opened the door to an industry I now feel deeply connected to.

While I don’t have a formal qualification in the field, everything I know has been learned on the ground—by doing the work, learning from others, and staying curious. Outdoor events are my specialty. I love helping transform a parkland, laneway, or public space into something completely unexpected. It’s a joy to create moments where people can gather, connect, and be part of something memorable.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the value of transferable skills. Recognising the relevance of my past experience gave me the confidence to pursue roles I might have once overlooked. Site crew experience taught me how to plan layouts and build schedules. Volunteering helped me understand how to better support volunteers. And my background in finance and admin has proven invaluable when managing budgets, timelines, and project documentation.

My career has taken many turns. Rather than specialising in just one area, I’ve worked across Site Operations, Production, Programming, and Volunteer Management. This variety has given me a broad and practical understanding of how festivals run—and how all the moving parts fit together. From small community gatherings to large-scale events, I’ve learned something valuable in every role, and made lasting connections with incredible people along the way.

For me, every experience has built on the last. And that’s the beauty of working in festivals—there’s always more to learn, and always new ways to grow.

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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