Sophie Galaise
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Managing Director
Sophie Galaise joined the MSO as its first female Managing Director in April 2016.
Sophie sits on the Board of Symphony Services International and is a member of the Advisory Council of the Harvard Business Review, the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the CEO Institute in Australia.
She is also a member of the International Advisory Committee of the only Master in International Arts Management, a program offered by Southern Methodist University (Dallas), SDA Bocconi (Milan) and HEC (Montreal). This unique program trains the next generation of managers and prepares them to work abroad or with foreign organisations.
In recognition of her leadership strategy that encourages, promote and champions women at all levels of an organisation, Sophie was named one of The Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence for 2015 and 2019. She is renowned for her extensive experience working with orchestras, not only at the executive level, but also as a professional musician and musicologist.
In 2019, she was invited to participate in the prestigious Perpetual Stanford CEO Study Tour in San Francisco. Along with nine other leaders from Australia, she took part in a week of activities and learning at the Stanford’s Centre on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS) exploring recent trends in social Impact, Philanthropy and Active Leadership.
Prior to her appointment to the MSO, Sophie was Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Previous roles include Executive Director of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Executive and Artistic Director of the Orford Arts Centre and Music Coordinator for the Quebec Arts Council.
Starting her career as a flautist in Germany, she also worked in Switzerland and France with Pierre Boulez.
Native from Quebec, Canada, Sophie has a PhD in Musicology from the University of Montreal and an Executive MBA from McGill University/HEC Montreal.
Sophie sits on the Board of Symphony Services International and is a member of the Advisory Council of the Harvard Business Review, the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and the CEO Institute in Australia.
She is also a member of the International Advisory Committee of the only Master in International Arts Management, a program offered by Southern Methodist University (Dallas), SDA Bocconi (Milan) and HEC (Montreal). This unique program trains the next generation of managers and prepares them to work abroad or with foreign organisations.
In recognition of her leadership strategy that encourages, promote and champions women at all levels of an organisation, Sophie was named one of The Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence for 2015 and 2019. She is renowned for her extensive experience working with orchestras, not only at the executive level, but also as a professional musician and musicologist.
In 2019, she was invited to participate in the prestigious Perpetual Stanford CEO Study Tour in San Francisco. Along with nine other leaders from Australia, she took part in a week of activities and learning at the Stanford’s Centre on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS) exploring recent trends in social Impact, Philanthropy and Active Leadership.
Prior to her appointment to the MSO, Sophie was Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Previous roles include Executive Director of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Executive and Artistic Director of the Orford Arts Centre and Music Coordinator for the Quebec Arts Council.
Starting her career as a flautist in Germany, she also worked in Switzerland and France with Pierre Boulez.
Native from Quebec, Canada, Sophie has a PhD in Musicology from the University of Montreal and an Executive MBA from McGill University/HEC Montreal.
