Tennis Australia Marketing Executive Britt Wickes Appointed Executive Director of Tropfest

Tropfest, Australia’s iconic short film festival, has announced the appointment of former Tennis Australia event marketing chief Britt Wickes as its new executive director.

In her new role, Wickes will oversee the organisation’s audience, brand, and commercial strategy, including corporate partnerships and revenue generation. The appointment comes as the festival looks to build on its triumphant return to Sydney earlier this year following a lengthy seven-year hiatus, leveraging commercial partnerships and year-round event expansions to secure its long-term financial stability.

Wickes joins Tropfest after spending six years at Tennis Australia, where she managed high-profile event marketing and transformation strategies, including the development of the Australian Open’s successful “Hits Different” brand platform.

Her background in managing large-scale cultural and sporting properties positions her to drive growth for the not-for-profit arts organisation, which is supported by a high-profile board including Peter V. V’landys, Lachlan Murdoch, and actor Bryan Brown, alongside a commercial partnership with the New South Wales Government.

Reflecting on her transition from elite sport to creative arts, Wickes emphasised the shared cultural DNA between major Australian events.

“Across nearly 20 years of my career, I’ve always been drawn to brands and experiences that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity, entertainment and audiences, so Tropfest feels like an incredibly exciting next chapter.”

“For me, this isn’t really a move from sport to film, it’s a move from one iconic Australian cultural event to another,” She said. 

Founded in 1993 by filmmaker John Polson in a Darlinghurst cafe, Tropfest evolved from a modest local screening into a massive national institution before ceasing operations in 2019.

Following its successful relaunch as a not-for-profit entity in Centennial Park in February 2026, the festival is entering a commercial development phase. Polson welcomed the appointment as a clear statement of intent regarding the organisation’s future ambitions.

In a statement to Mumbrella, Polson said: “Over the past year, our not-for-profit board and broader team have worked incredibly hard to relaunch this beloved and iconic Australian event.”

“Now we have the opportunity to build on everything people love about Tropfest and create the festival Australian filmmakers – and audiences – need for the future,” He further noted.

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