Sydney Opera House names first-ever CTO

The Sydney Opera House has appointed its first-ever chief technology officer, promoting former technical support team leader Nic Boling into the newly created position.

Nic Boling.

Boling will report to the Opera House’s chief financial officer, Natasha Collier.

He previously led the technical support team at the Sydney Opera House after moving across from the information systems (IS) operations team.

A spokesperson for the Opera House said Boling was chosen because he “has a strong strategic and operational understanding of what technology needs to deliver in the Opera House’s corporate and production environments”.

Prior to the appointment, the Opera House's ICT systems were divided between several different teams, overseen by different executives.

While the Opera House had employed a CIO in the past, the position had been vacant for several years. Aspects of the role had been overseen by COO Claire Spencer, who left the organisation in October last year.

The decision to appoint a CTO was made as a result of a review conducted as part of the Opera House’s 40th, which recommended the iconic venue should consolidate various technology-related teams under the new role, with current team leaders reporting into the CTO.

Advertised in July, the role will unify technology leadership, planning and ICT-related teams, which had previously been handled separately.

“As CTO, Nic will lead the management and development of all ICT resources, infrastructure and operations for our corporate, commercial, building and theatre-related activities,” the spokesperson said.

Over the longer term, a key part of the incoming CTO’s duties will be formulating a five-year technology plan for the venue.