Leo Schofield

Leo Schofield, born on May 6, 1935, in Brewarrina, New South Wales, started his career at 14 in the haberdashery department of Grace Bros in 1949. His early professional life also included a two-year cadetship at The Sydney Morning Herald starting at age 18. Schofield later transitioned into advertising, becoming the creative director of Leo Burnett advertising agency. In the 1970s, he shifted his focus to journalism, contributing to various publications such as the Sunday Australian, The Australian, Vogue, The Bulletin, and for two decades, the Sydney Morning Herald. He gained prominence as a restaurant critic, establishing The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 1984 with co-editors David Dale and Jenna Price, and remained its editor until 1993.

Schofield then moved into the arts sector, serving as the artistic director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival from 1993 to 1996. Following this, he was appointed artistic director of the Sydney Festival, holding the position from 1998 to 2001. Concurrently, he directed the arts festivals for the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2000 Summer Paralympics. His contributions to the arts were recognized with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001 for his service to the arts, culture, heritage, and food industry. In 2010, Schofield also participated as a judge on the Australian adaptation of the cooking program Iron Chef. He has served on the boards of various institutions, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as its inaugural Chairman from 1996 to 2000, the Centennial Park Trust, the National Trust of Australia (NSW), and as a Trustee for the Powerhouse Museum and the Sydney Opera House Trust.