The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) Board has just confirmed the appointment of Kellie Hush as CEO of Australian Fashion Week 2025.
The move comes months after AFC took over the reins of the Sydney-based fashion show, following the exit of IMG as the event manager.
Preparations for AFW 2025 are currently in full swing, with the original founder Simon Lock heading up the event’s advisory board.
Hush is no stranger to the Australian fashion industry, with over 20 years of experience across media, fashion and business. She was the editor-in-chief of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia and is a founding director of the AFC as well as the industry body’s acting CEO in 2022.
She is also chief strategy and brand officer of fashion rental platform The Volte.
Hush will work closely with the AFC board and AFC CEO Jaana Quaintance-James to deliver this year’s fashion week event and set the event up for the future under a not-for-profit model.
“We have consistently emphasised that the AFC cannot achieve this alone – we need to mobilise a dedicated team,” AFC chair Marianne Perkovic said. “With Kellie’s extensive industry experience, long standing relationships, and deep understanding of the AFC, the board is confident there is no better person to lead Fashion Week 2025 during this pivotal time for both the event and the industry.
Hush shared her enthusiasm for the role, noting that she has been attending Australian Fashion Week for over two decades.
“I am delighted to step into this role, working alongside the AFC and my industry colleagues to deliver a 2025 event that stays true to the core principles of Fashion Week.”
The AFC has also made two further appointments to the AFC Australian Fashion Week 2025 team. Jacqui Brown will take on the role of head of operations, bringing experience in major event development and execution, including at Australian and New York Fashion Weeks, most recently having been in a production director role with IMG.
Meanwhile, Zoe Davis takes on the role of head of strategic partnerships. Her career so far covers managing and activating major partnerships across events, music and publishing, most recently as the commercial director of Cosmopolitan.
Australian Fashion Week 2025 will run from May 12 to 16 at Carriageworks in Eveleigh. Contact the AFC for more details.