Petra McNeilly Rutledge is Senior Director, Creative and Engagement for the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra. With a career spanning government, education, and the arts, she is known for her strategic vision, inclusive leadership, and transformative programming.
Petra leads the creative direction of one of Canberra’s most iconic events, overseeing artistic programming, stakeholder engagement, sponsorship, and volunteer coordination. Her leadership of the 2024 Enlighten Festival resulted in record attendance and satisfaction and strengthened partnerships with national cultural institutions.
Previously, Petra worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where she led Celebrate LA, a city-wide festival praised by the LA Times as “a cultural milestone and a model for arts institutions worldwide”. She also managed the launch of a Frank Gehry–designed music education centre and developed strategic plans for major cultural institutions in Los Angeles.
Petra is a passionate advocate for community-led cultural experiences and continues to champion initiatives that foster connection, celebration, and belonging.