Former Sydney Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive claims pursuit of sexual abuse issues led to firing

Former Sydney Symphony Orchestra Chief Executive, Emma Dunch, claims her pursuit of multiple sexual abuse allegations led to her being fired last year,

Reports suggests Dunch recently took legal action in Federal Court against both the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and former Chair Geoff Wilson.

According to court documents, in May last year, a female musician alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by another artist. Dunch is reported to have claimed that over the following two months, six current and former SSO employees approached her with similar complaints.

Dunch reportedly then hired former Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to conduct a workplace assessment. Broderick concluded that there was “systemic sexual harassment, bullying, racism and behavioural problems … going back more than two decades, as confirmed by about 60 interviewees” at the SSO.

When Dunch pursued the review by Broderick of other claims, Dunch alleges she was fired with two years left on her contract.

She was paid $471,302 on termination, but is demanding an additional $74,560 for breach of contract, and also claims she suffered from ‘fear, shock and distress’ in the event of unexpected dismissal.

At the time of her dismissal Dunch had been pressing Create NSW to pay a further $5 million to compensate the SSO for the cost of playing in the much smaller venue of Sydney Town Hall, on top of $5 million already committed.

And in November 2021, the Australian Financial Review published details of a confidential report, commissioned by Create NSW and federal arts funding body The Australia Council, raising concerns about Dunch’s leadership style.

In a personal statement then issued by Dunch, she said she would be taking a case of harassment to government anti-corruption channels.

Her statement advised “we all know that NSW politics is a blood sport, but I have been targeted with a politically architected ‘hit job’ of the highest order across the past several years.”

Advising that she had maintained “a reluctant professional silence while experiencing ongoing vilification and harassment behind the scenes”, Dunch noted “it has been an ugly business and I will be taking appropriate action via the government corruption channels available to me.