CEO Alec Coles has been named the most influential person in Western Australia’s arts and entertainment industry, 18 June 2026

Congratulations to WA Museum CEO Alec Coles, who has been named the most influential person in Western Australia’s arts and entertainment industry in Business News’ Power 500. Alec has led the Museum for almost 18 years, overseeing an enormous period of growth and transformation, including the $400 million redevelopment of WA Museum Boola Bardip in 2020.

In the past year, the Museum welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors across its seven locations, while Boola Bardip received national recognition at the Australian Tourism Awards and Terracotta Warriors: Legacy of the First Emperor became the most successful exhibition in Western Australia’s history.

His role also spans the care of more than 8 million objects and specimens at the Museum’s Collections and Research Centre, alongside the ever-evolving work being done across exhibitions, activations and public programming.

“It is a huge honour to be listed amongst so many great cultural leaders. Ultimately, it is not about me, but about the performance of the whole organisation and the fantastic people who work for us.” – Alec Coles