Josephine Ridge is the creative director of Melbourne Festival. Since 1986, she has been involved in the performing arts across a variety of sectors including theatre, dance and music, working for Playbox Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Opera Australia, Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Ballet. In 2003, she was appointed general manager (later, executive director) of Sydney Festival, where she worked for nearly ten years. Josephine is a fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program and has held board positions with the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Critical Path and the TarraWarra Museum of Art. She also recently joined the panel of Artistic Peers for the Australian Ballet.