Malcolm has worked in the arts and events area since 1981 and held positions ranging from Box Office Co-ordinator to Sponsorship Manager to General Manager. He has worked for organisations including Opera Australia, the Sydney Opera House, Opera New Zealand, SOCOG, Powerhouse Museum, and Sydney Festival. He has freelanced on many other projects including The Phantom of the Opera and Sensation. While he has a wide range of experience through these organisations the Sydney Festival has been the most significant having worked on 16 of the 39 Festivals and attended many of the others as a member of the public. Sydney Festival raises $19 million annually, with 40% of this drawn from the corporate sector.