As co-director of $10 million Adelaide Fringe venue hub Gluttony, Kirschbaum manages multiple events throughout the year including Lucky Dumpling Market, Light Up NYE and Base Camp.

After beginning her event management experience in Canberra in 2005, Kirschbaum joined the then-emerging venue hub Gluttony in 2011. By 2013 she was a co-director working in partnership with Daniel Michael to present Gluttony in Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka.

Across 2021 and 2022, Gluttony venue The Lark featured all women or non-binary identifying artists and offered them reduced fees to recognise their disproportionate disadvantage in the industry post-pandemic.

For her tireless work, Kirschbaum won the Inspiring Female Leader award presented by Harrison McMillian for an outstanding female who leads, inspires and pushes the boundaries of the business community.

Alongside her work at Gluttony, Kirschbaum is Director and Creative Producer at Highwire Entertainment, a circus and mixed artform show production company.

“Highwire Entertainment creates, directs and tours circus and mixed artform shows around the world,” Kirschbaum said.

“Of particular note among Highwire Entertainment’s shows are Rouge, which won Best Circus at Adelaide Fringe 2020, and The Defiant, which took out Best Circus at the 2022 Adelaide Fringe.”

She said they have also created a project that is being rolled out this year working with regional communities to add capacity into arts organisations in remote and regional communities while at the same time offering additional employment to their artists.

“We plan to expand this program and are looking into creating a not-for-profit arm of the company to support artists with a focus on disadvantaged artists who haven’t had the same level of access to training and professional achievements,” Kirschbaum said.

She said Gluttony is proud to employ a team of staff year-round in Adelaide, which expands to include interstate and international members to total more than 400 as the season approaches.

“I am proud that we have built a team of such talented, hard-working people, who collaborate and support each other fantastically through our fast-paced seasons to create a memorable, enjoyable festival experience for patrons and artists,” Kirschbaum said.

“My career has been shaped by a passion for bringing people together, for sharing joy and leading with kindness.

“I believe that not being afraid to go for things has been what has driven me forward, for having ideas and wanting to share them with people, and not letting fear or inexperience hold me back.”

She currently chairs the board of Happy Haps Productions, a new not-for-profit company that aims to improve the lives of women and girls through the arts.

“We do this by building confidence and capability, creating opportunities for female participation, and connecting and inspiring women leaders,” Kirschbaum said.