Kylie Kwong awarded $440,000 Powerhouse Museum role amid spending probe

Celebrity chef Kylie Kwong has been awarded a two-year ambassador role at the Powerhouse Museum worth $440,000 in public funds. The appointment has drawn criticism from the arts sector, as it follows a previous announcement that Kwong’s tenure under the museum’s $2.6 million ‘Associates’ program had ended on June 30.

The new contract, effective from August 1, comes while the museum is under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption regarding overspending and procurement practices. Former chief executive Lisa Havilah, who has stood aside pending a departmental investigation into governance, has a long-standing professional relationship with Kwong.

The role is believed to be part-time and does not involve catering or food venue operations. This development occurs as the museum prepares for the opening of its billion-dollar Parramatta site.