Big news coming out of Australia: Olly Arkins, the former CEO of the Australian Festival Association, just got unanimously voted in as the new deputy lord mayor of Sydney. This is a massive W, as Arkins is now the first openly trans person to hold this position in the city.
Arkins has been on the City of Sydney Council for two years, and she’s already been doing the most. Before joining the council, she spent five years leading the AFA, where she lowkey saved the festival scene. Her biggest flex? Helping rewrite the Music Festivals Act in New South Wales to get real reform passed. She also helped secure drug-checking services and pushed for that essential Revive Live funding. Basically, she’s been putting in the work for years.
In a statement, Arkins said she’s ready to make Sydney a city that's as "fun, welcoming, diverse and affordable" as she knows it can be. She’s already deep in the local scene as the deputy chair of the cultural, creative and nightlife committee, and she’s constantly backing icons like Yabun and Mardi Gras.
Why it matters
Arkins is breaking barriers as the first openly trans deputy lord mayor of a major city. With her background in advocacy and protecting live music culture, she’s bringing that main character energy to local government to make Sydney a vibe again.
