The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Foundation is pleased to share that Sue Hunt AM, Chief Executive Officer, has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Announced on Thursday 26 January as part of the 2023 Australia Day Honours, Sue Hunt AM was recognised for her significant service to the arts, particularly live performance, and to community health.

“I am honoured and humbled by this incredible recognition. I have been truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to combine my passion for community, arts, creativity and change-making with my professional career. I have worked alongside remarkable people, who achieved tremendous things. I’m proud that what I do is considered meaningful to other people,” said Sue.

This esteemed honour celebrates Sue’s exceptional career in the arts, spanning over 25 years. Sue has led the Geelong Performing Arts Centre as General Manager, has been General Manager of Queensland Theatre Company, Director, Performing Arts at the Sydney Opera House, and was founding Chief Executive Officer of Carriageworks.

She has held many voluntary board positions including the Performing Arts Committee of Asialink and was President of the Australasian Performing Arts Centres Association. She was a director of Courthouse Youth Arts Project and Back to Back Theatre in Geelong. In Brisbane, she was an inaugural director of Brisbane Powerhouse and Chair of Youth Arts Queensland. She served on the board of the Australian Theatre for Young People in Sydney. More recently Sue was Deputy Chair of Rising Festival and is currently Chair of Auspicious Arts Projects and Regional Arts Victoria and is a director of the Penguin Foundation on Phillip Island.

“In the arts, I could transform people through the power of performance. I am most proud of having the opportunity to facilitate artists and donors to change the lives of other people through their work,” said Sue.

In 2010, Sue returned to her home state of Victoria to take on a new challenge as Chief Executive Officer of the RCH Foundation, growing the organisation into one of the largest philanthropic bodies in Australia, and truly making a difference to the lives of Victorian children.

“I’m immensely proud of what the RCH Foundation have been able to achieve, not only in the past 12 years under my leadership, but also in advancing the hospital’s impact for over 150 years. Through community generosity, we have helped build world-class facilities, attract and retain the best clinical minds, fund ground-breaking research and truly make a difference for sick and vulnerable children. It’s been an honour to lead a tremendous team, and I’m incredibly passionate about the future impact we can create through the support of philanthropy,” said Sue.

“I would like to thank all the donors, large and small, all the artists and technicians and my family and friends. They have made this award possible and I couldn’t be happier, or more grateful,” said Sue