Brisbane 2032 will change its executive leadership as preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games enter a new phase. Cindy Hook has decided not to renew her four-year contract and will leave her position when it expires, according to the announcement issued on Tuesday, 13 October. The organising committee will immediately launch a global search and expects to appoint her successor in the coming months, aiming to ensure a smooth transition into operations and project and event delivery.
Hook was appointed in December 2022, after leading Deloitte Asia Pacific, and took on the task of building the organisation responsible for preparing the Games. Her achievements include recruiting the team, establishing Brisbane 2032’s vision and Games Plan, and developing its strategy and brand identity. “This is the right time to hand over to a new CEO,” she said when explaining her decision.
Liveris recognises Hook’s work in establishing the organisation
Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris highlighted the committee’s transformation during this initial stage. “Cindy has been an exceptional leader whose passion, drive and strategic intellect has set Brisbane 2032 up for success,” he said. Liveris also stressed her work in recruiting professionals and establishing financial and management processes within an organisation that started virtually from scratch and must now meet increasing operational demands.
The departure was announced just eight days after the official unveiling of the Olympic and Paralympic emblems on 5 October. Inspired by the nature and identity of Queensland and Australia, they represent one of the most visible outcomes of this phase. Hook’s record also includes working with government partners on the legacy strategy and securing the organising committee’s first commercial partner.
New leadership to put the plans into action
The next phase will shift the focus towards procurement, operations, and project and event delivery. The leadership transition will accompany this expansion, with Los Angeles 2028 serving as the next Olympic reference point ahead of Brisbane. Queensland’s Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Tim Mander, identified those responsibilities as the next step for an organisation that has completed its initial building phase.
The incoming leadership will also face the task of updating the operating budget. Speaking at the International Olympic Committee Session in Milan in February, Liveris explained that organisers were working with the IOC to revise the A$4.9 billion estimate included in the bid. This remains one of the outstanding issues in preparations for the Games; reporting on the announcement does not identify it as a reason for Hook’s decision.
Recognition of her work also came from the IOC Coordination Commission and the Australian Olympic Committee, which highlighted the organisational capabilities and international reputation developed during her tenure. Her successor will inherit that structure with a different responsibility: moving from plans to delivery. Brisbane’s Olympic Games are scheduled for 23 July to 8 August 2032, followed by the Paralympic Games from 24 August to 5 September.
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