Chunky Move has announced a new phase in its leadership structure, with Suzanne Daley set to join the company as Executive Director, working alongside Artistic Director Antony Hamilton in a joint model from June.
The appointment follows the departure of Kristy Ayre, who leaves after seven years with the organisation to take up a role with the City of Melbourne. In the interim, Michaela Coventry has been supporting the company ahead of Daley’s commencement.
For Chunky Move, the shift formalises a dual leadership approach, placing artistic vision and organisational strategy in closer alignment. Chair Sally Calder described Daley as “a highly regarded, experienced and capable arts leader,” noting that her appointment comes at the right time for the company’s continued development.
Daley’s career spans policy, major arts infrastructure, philanthropy and independent production. She began at Live Performance Australia, leading advocacy and research initiatives, before moving into Arts Centre Melbourne’s leadership team, where she contributed to long-term planning and helped secure significant government investment for redevelopment. As Director of Philanthropy, she led major fundraising initiatives supporting projects including Asia TOPA, alongside programs focused on accessibility and technical training.
Her more recent work with Performing Lines has seen her collaborating directly with independent artists to realise new contemporary works, maintaining a connection to the sector at its most immediate level. She also brings extensive governance experience, having served on the Auspicious Arts Board for 15 years and currently as Chair.
Hamilton welcomed the appointment, pointing to the value of fresh perspective within the company’s next chapter and reaffirming Chunky Move’s ongoing commitment to creating “genre-defying contemporary dance” with clear strategic direction.
For Daley, the move carries both familiarity and ambition. “As a lifelong Melbournian, I always look forward to the latest work from Chunky Move,” she said. “I am delighted to join the company and to work alongside Antony to further extend his bold artistic vision, drive forward the artform of dance, and take Chunky’s works to more audiences around Australia and the world.”
For Chunky Move, the appointment appears to be a straightforward one. With Antony Hamilton’s artistic direction firmly established, Daley’s role strengthens the company’s capacity to support, produce and tour that work at scale, both nationally and internationally, with the backing of a board clearly investing in the company’s next phase.