Chair
Ashley Miller
Board Members
Imelda Alexopoulos
Beata Byok
Jane Doyle OAM
Peter Goldsworthy AM
Thomas Millhouse
Philippa Williams
STAFF
Australian-Chinese-Singaporean conductor Dane Lam brings a global perspective home to Australia.
With a reputation for bold programming, artistic innovation, and connection with audiences, Lam is redefining opera and orchestral music for today’s world. As Artistic Director of State Opera South Australia, he champions opera as a living, breathing artform—rooted in tradition but reimagined for new generations. His leadership across three continents speaks to his singular ability to unite musical excellence with cultural openness.
Lam currently serves as Artistic Director of State Opera South Australia (Adelaide), Music & Artistic Director of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (Honolulu), and Principal Conductor of the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra (China).
A Juilliard graduate and protégé of the late Kurt Masur, his career spans major opera houses and symphony halls across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Whether conducting Mahler in Xi’an, Mozart in Sydney, or championing new Pacific Rim voices in Honolulu, Lam leads with passion, precision, and purpose.
Hometown
New Zealand
New Zealand
What I do
I oversee and direct the company’s short and long-term financial activities to meet its goals
My favourite opera is…
Sweeney Todd
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera
The variety of people I meet and work with
When I’m not at work, I’m…
spending time with my husband and two children, volunteering at the cricket and swimming clubs and enjoy watching sports and playing board games
Hometown
Goring-by-Sea, Sussex, England
Goring-by-Sea, Sussex, England
What I do
Try and make sure we make great music!
My favourite opera is…
The best thing about opera is the huge variety of styles, so it is impossible to pick one. From Monteverdi to Mozart, Verdi and Puccini, Britten and beyond, there’s so much great theatre. Will never tire of Verdi’s Falstaff and Puccini’s Turandot.
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera
A great team, wonderful people in the chorus, talent bursting out everywhere.
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Working in my other (not so secret) passion – Anglican choral music, at St Peter’s Cathedral.
Hometown
Loxton, Ngawait, Ngintait and Erawirung country. (The Riverland was a busy place before the Brits!)
Loxton, Ngawait, Ngintait and Erawirung country. (The Riverland was a busy place before the Brits!)
What I do
I’m in charge of the production department. Stage management, set, props, lights, sound, wardrobe, surtitles, wigs and makeup all work for me. I manifest the ideas of the designers and directors into three-dimensional form on this astral plane.
My favourite opera is…
Always the one I’m working on now… I’m not being glib… One must buy into the ideas of each piece otherwise why do it?
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera
No day is ever the same
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Cooking for my wife and kids… or chasing my 7YO daughter around the golf courses of Australia.
Hometown: Adelaide, Kaurna Country
What I do: I get to work with all our fabulous individual and corporate supporters to raise the much needed funds to ensure we can continue to deliver more opera, to more people.
My favourite opera is… La Traviata! Paris, parties, champagne and forbidden love – what’s not to love!?
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera: Being surrounded by people who are passionate about supporting the arts and working with so many incredibly talented creatives.
When I’m not at work, I’m… spending time with family and friends, travelling, finding new restaurants to try or visiting galleries.
Hometown:
What I do:
My favourite opera is…
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera:
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Hometown
Adelaide, Kaurna Land
Adelaide, Kaurna Land
What I do:
I look after the office, all ticketing and everything in between. I am your first point of contact when you visit or call the office, need help booking tickets to one of our shows or just need some information. I also ensure that the office is running smoothly, everyone has what they need and generally help and support the team in any way that I can.
If it’s tickets that you want, I can help with your seating requirements, group bookings and everything in between from the start of the ticketing process to the end. You will also find me at the box office before our shows, there to help any of our patrons attending one of our performances.
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera…
The people hands down, plus working in the Arts is so rewarding and no two days are the same. It’s a very collaborative environment and we all have fun while we work, which is a huge bonus.
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Catching up with friends & family and I love travelling and experiencing new cultures, trying different foods either here at home, interstate or overseas. The world is getting smaller and smaller and it is amazing the people that you meet on your travels.
Hometown:
What I do:
My favourite opera is…
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera:
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Hometown
Adelaide, Kaurna Land
Adelaide, Kaurna Land
What I do
Finance, from payrolls to invoices and everything in between.
My favourite opera is…
The Merry Widow and Sweeney Todd.
What I enjoy most about working at State Opera
Working in a completely different field than I ever worked before: the arts industry is such an exciting one to be involved with!
When I’m not at work, I’m…
Eating and drinking in some of my favourite wineries in the Hills. In summer, you will find me by the pool and in winter, cuddling my two cats that I adore.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The State Opera of South Australia was established under the State Opera Act of 1976