In February 2009, Chrissy Sharp was appointed director of Melbourne, Victoria's, Wheeler Centre Books Writing Ideas. Originally from Sydney, Sharp was the first general manager of the Sydney Festival (2000-2003) before taking up the position of general manager of Sadler's Wells, London.
In May 2011, Sharp announced that she would leave the Wheeler Centre. She completed her directorship in mid-September 2011. She later took on the directorship of the Sydney Writers' Festival (from 2018), stepping down from the role early (in mid 2021) as a result of ill health. She died in late 2021.