Mark Wilsdon

Mark Wilsdon was appointed Chief Operating Officer at The Powerhouse in August 2021. He has over 30 years’ experience in the arts, cultural, tourism and hospitality sectors, including as the founding Co-CEO of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), where he oversaw the establishment and extraordinary growth of the world-renowned institution.

His original training as a chef led him to work in some of Europe’s leading restaurants. Returning home to Tasmania, before and while working at MONA, he has owned and operated several successful hospitality businesses. Building on first hand operational experience and personal development, Mark now applies the core principles of management and operations to his role at The Powerhouse.

Mark brings strong entrepreneurial spirit, financial and commercial acumen, as well as expertise in the delivery of visitor experience strategies. At The Powerhouse he is responsible for oversight of team development, organisational structure, operational planning and cultural and business capabilities, ensuring a sustainable and vibrant enterprise and culture. Under his leadership, a new benchmark in visitor experience will be set across Powerhouse sites, aligning commercial operations with dynamic cultural programming.

Mark is a Director of The Unconformity Festival in Tasmania. He is a past Director of Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia (UWEA) and a Director and Deputy Chair of the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT). In 2021, he was named Tasmanian Tourism Champion for his contribution to the development and evolution of Tasmanian tourism.