National Gallery of Victoria staffer charged with $8m theft

A former senior employee of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has been charged by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) for allegedly siphoning $8 million from the institution.

The investigation, known as Operation Sonder, alleges the individual used an NGV account to purchase mobile phones, which were then sold for personal financial gain. The alleged misconduct occurred between September 2019 and September 2025. The former staffer faces seven counts of theft and one count of misconduct in public office.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood informed staff that the individual's actions breached organizational policies and the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct. The employee was terminated in September 2025 following reports to Victoria Police and IBAC. The gallery stated it has since implemented new measures and controls to strengthen its internal systems and processes.