Since 2006, Douglas has delivered a program-led strategy to grow audiences. Douglas’ program innovations include Adelaide Festival Centre’s Adelaide Guitar Festival and Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival.

Douglas Gautier came to Adelaide Festival Centre after leading one of the world’s great arts festivals as Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Douglas also held the posts of Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing for STAR TV. He was founding Vice-Chairman of the Asian Arts Festival Association and a board member of the Asian Cultural Council (Rockefeller Foundation).

In 2013, Douglas was elected Chair of the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres (AAPPAC). He is also the Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for Arts and Cultural Leadership, a member of the new Australia-Singapore Arts Group, an Executive Councillor of Live Performance Australia, an advisor to the Hong Kong Arts Festival, a Flinders University Councillor, and an adjunct professor of the University of South Australia.

In 2016, Douglas was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the arts and the community.