Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith will step down in June, having made the decision to leave after a two-year period marked by community-focused initiatives, financial strain, and governance scrutiny.
Beckwith first joined the organisation in 2018 and was appointed interim CEO in May 2023, before being officially named to the role in October that year.
Her leadership began during what the board described as “one of the most challenging chapters in the organisation’s history”.
She focused on reconnecting with community voices, launching new events such as Hot Trans Summer and First Nations festival First Light, and continuing programs like Ultra Violet introduced during Sydney WorldPride.
“It’s been the honour of a lifetime to serve as CEO of Sydney Mardi Gras,” Beckwith said in a statement.
“These past two years have been filled with incredible highs and some tough challenges – but what has never wavered is the strength of our community and the dedication of the team at the organisation.
“Through challenge and change, I’ve seen firsthand the strength, creativity, and care that defines us. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together – especially the ways we’ve made the organisation more inclusive, more accessible, more responsive, and more rooted in community than ever before.
“As I step away, I do so with confidence in the team, the direction, and the unwavering spirit that will carry Sydney Mardi Gras into its next chapter.”
Under Beckwith, Mardi Gras secured JoJo Siwa for a line dancing event at Fair Day this year and Troye Sivan at the official after-party. Under her reign, the organisation also negotiated rent-free use of a Sydney CBD office from the City of Sydney, saving approximately $250,000.
However, her tenure was marked by a series of financial and organisational setbacks.
The cancellation of Fair Day in 2024 due to asbestos contamination cost the organisation more than $650,000, while the Bondi Beach Party that same season drew just 5825 attendees – well below its 15,000 capacity – and recorded a $1 million loss.
Mardi Gras has since lost the licence to run the Bondi event for up to five years, after Waverley Council awarded it to private promoter Fuzzy through a competitive tender process.
Mardi Gras ended the 2024 financial year with a $1.2 million deficit.
In order to secure emergency funding, the organisation agreed to undergo a governance review commissioned by Destination NSW.
Delivered in October, the final report, leaked to Gay Sydney News, identified 18 governance risks – two of them rated “extreme”.
In one “extreme” case, the review identified discrepancies of about $800,000 in February 2024’s internal budget update, while the accompanying report from Beckwith at the time stated the organisation was tracking $25,000 ahead of budget.
Beckwith told the review the figures were prepared by a new chief financial officer who soon left the organisation, and that the document had not been independently reviewed before being presented to the board.
At the recent December annual general meeting, Beckwith said the $1.2 million loss was due to “a confluence of extraordinary circumstances and not mismanagement”.
The review noted Mardi Gras had no risk management framework in place, failed to complete scheduled budget reforecasting in October 2023, and delayed delivering updated financials until early 2024.
Despite these issues, the review recognised improvements, including more structured budgeting for the 2025 festival and a shift to three-year partnership agreements.
In response to the review’s findings being published by Gay Sydney News, Mardi Gras said in December that it had implemented or was in the process of implementing 24 of its 28 recommendations.
Mardi Gras also appointed a treasurer earlier this year to improve financial oversight.
Beckwith’s time as CEO also included involvement in key cultural and political decisions.
During her leadership period, the Mardi Gras board supported a motion to exclude NSW Police from the parade – a proposal based on community consultation but ultimately voted down by members 493 to 459.
She also publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza after sustained pressure from community advocates.
Board co-chair Kathy Pavlich praised Beckwith’s impact, describing her as “an extraordinary leader” who brought “strategic focus, deep community connection, and a genuine commitment to inclusion”.
Pavlich said Beckwith’s work helped “expand the festival’s reach, renew its foundations, and ensure it remains a vital platform for LGBTQIA+ voices”.
She added: “We thank her for her outstanding contribution and wish her every success in what comes next.”
The board is currently reviewing applications following a closed expression of interest process for an interim chief executive to lead the team alongside Beckwith until she departs, and will be commencing formal recruitment for her successor in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Mardi Gras leadership changes have continued into 2025. Last Friday, director and former co-chair Brandon Bear resigned months after being re-elected, citing personal commitments.
Editor’s note: Journalist Ben Grubb pays $50 annually for Mardi Gras membership to access discounts, including at retail stores and bars, but doesn’t use the membership’s voting rights.
Gay Sydney News editor