Powerhouse Parramatta chief Lisa Havilah departs just weeks from opening

Lisa Havilah, the high-profile leader of the Powerhouse Parramatta, has stepped down 72 days before the opening of its new billion-dollar headquarters in western Sydney, the state’s biggest investment in culture since the Sydney Opera House.

In a shock development, staff were alerted on Thursday afternoon that Havilah had stood aside from her role of seven years pending completion of a departmental investigation into “governance and procurement practices”.

NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin has been appointed interim chief executive, and the former chief executive of Sydney Opera House, Louise Herron, as strategic adviser.

Department secretary Melanie Hawes said in a letter to staff: “As you would be aware from recent media reports, there is an ongoing investigation into matters relating to governance and procurement practices at the Powerhouse.

“After speaking with the chief executive earlier today, Lisa Havilah will be standing aside while the investigation is completed.

“I recognise that this news comes at a significant time for the organisation, as we prepare for the opening of Powerhouse Parramatta. I know how much work, commitment and personal energy all of you have invested in reaching this milestone, and I want to assure you that there will be no impact to the existing programs of work, or the opening on November 7.”

The extraordinary intervention comes weeks after the Herald published revelations that the museum had burnt through more than $70 million in the lead-up to its November 7 opening.

And it comes almost a year after the revelation of the existence of a protected whistleblower complaint around procurement practices and job appointments at the Powerhouse.

The Powerhouse has spent more than $5 million on marketing and public relations in Australia and London, including $1.7 million-plus on a film and television documentary , as well as $25 million building exhibits for five opening shows, not including object loans, freight and commissioning of new artworks.

NSW Treasury secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter told budget estimates on Friday he was concerned about pre-opening overspending by western Sydney’s first cultural institution. Treasury parachuted Cassandra Wilkinson into the role of acting chief operating officer amid the spending disclosures.

The Herald understands the museum’s board of trustees met two weeks ago to consider procurement issues at Parramatta, following a review that resulted in the re-tendering of at least one major contract. A meeting of the museum’s executive had been convened for 2.30pm.