Renee Gibson

Renee Gibson
She/Her
CentrED Education Manager, Adelaide Festival Centre

I began my career as a teacher after completing a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) at Flinders University, majoring in Drama and Australian Studies. My first role was at a college in Adelaide, which I loved, but I had always dreamt of teaching internationally. That dream took me to Beijing, China, where I worked as an elementary school English Language Learners specialist.

After several years abroad, I returned to Adelaide and pivoted careers, enrolling in a Master of Commerce (Marketing) at the University of Adelaide. Returning to full-time study at 30 wasn’t easy, but I followed my instincts. During my studies, I completed an events internship with Yelp Adelaide and a marketing internship at Holden Street Theatres’ Adelaide Fringe season—where I also coordinated the Schools Program. Also working throughout my studies in various roles including OSHC Educator, university marketing tutor, and craft beer tour guide.

This diverse mix of skills and experiences helped me secure the role of Marketing Coordinator at Adelaide Festival Centre, working mainly on DreamBIG Children’s Festival. When the opportunity to manage the centrED Schools Program emerged, I was in two minds—having left teaching and invested in retraining. But I missed working with young people, so applying felt natural.

My current role is varied and fast-paced. While primarily office-based, I’m often away from my desk hosting artist workshops, running careers tours and panels, or working closely with Class of Cabaret students. I also manage a wide range of stakeholders, including artists, teachers, students, government departments, and internal teams.

I draw on my background in education to shape a dynamic, responsive schools program and apply my business acumen and marketing training to ensure it’s strategic, efficient, and impactful. The blend of creativity, education, and community engagement makes this role deeply rewarding—and feels like a perfect fit.

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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