Matt Wildy

I started as a ‘cowboy’ in the events industry 20 years ago in the Margaret River Region in WA. I started putting on my own private dance parties which eventually outgrew themselves due to popularity. I then started promoting parties in commercial venues and eventually moved to putting on my own festivals. Everybody always said, ‘that was the best party/festival I have ever been to!’. That was always a good feeling and I took pride in my work.

The meandering rivers of life brought me to Adelaide 12 years ago. I realised I wasn’t going to get very far as a cowboy promoter so I had to knuckle down, get some formal qualifications, and do whatever I could to get into the Adelaide festival/events world. I studied a Diploma of Technical Production Theatre & Events at TAFE SA’s Adelaide College of the Arts. I also gained certificates in Event Management through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through all my event management experience in WA.

I eventually got the chance to do a 6-week secondment at the 2013 Darwin Festival.  The following year I was offered employment on the festival and worked my way up to the role of Logistics Manager, and the rest is history. I have worked festival to festival since then and loved every second of it.

My employment experience has been great. I have worked on so many wonderful festivals and events, challenging projects, and met so many great humans along the way.  With the right attitude it is a very fun and rewarding industry. You work super hard, and it can be very intense at times, but there is a real buzz working with a great team and pulling off amazing things together!

Pronouns: He/Him

Content supplied by: Matt Wildy

Edited for clarity by: Dahlia Opala

Photography by: Thomas McCammon

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