People

In Brief (cont)

The Women in Fitness Association (WIFA) has announced the appointment of Gold Coast-based Meghan Jarvis as its latest Global Ambassador. Data technology company ActiveXchange has appointed Ricki Jones as their new Head of Commercial Partnerships for Australia and New Zealand. Triathlon New Zealand have recently appointed Peter Kadar as their new Performance Operations Manager following on from their appointment in March of Pete de Wet as new Chief Executive. The former Chief Executive of Ngai Tahu Property, David Kennedy, has been appointed Chief Executive of Te Kaha Project Delivery Limited - the company overseeing the delivery of Te Kaha - Canterbury Multi-Use Arena. The Wairau Maori Art Gallery in Whangarei has appointed Larissa McMillan as its inaugural Director. The NFL announced that Charlotte Offord has been named as General Manager for Australia, the league’s first full-time employee in Australia. Matthew Olson has been appointed General Manager at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney. LAI Games has promoted Shannon Perell to Chief Product Officer from his previously held position of Vice President of Product Development for the company. Community Leisure Management (CLM) has appointed Darren Pott as the Facility Manager of Whangarei Aquatic Centre in the Northland region. The Adelaide Convention Centre has named Martin Radcliffe as its new General Manager, replacing the outgoing Simon Burgess, who is moving to the National Wine Centre of Australia. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has named Peter van der Schans as its Executive Director and Vice President for the EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East and Africa). Laura Shack has taken on the role of Senior Manager, Media and Communications for Royal Life Saving Society WA Inc. Les Mills New Zealand has appointed Brett Sutton as its new Chief Executive. Aiming to create better opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be involved with the sport at all levels, Basketball Australia has announced that it has engaged Paul Vandenbergh as its Indigenous Lead. The South Australian Motorsport Board responsible for reviving the Adelaide 500 Supercars race has named its new Chief Executive, experienced motorsport administrator Mark Warren. Jeroen Weimar, who led the state’s COVID-19 Response, has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee - the organisation charged with overseeing the build-up to and delivery of the event. Jenelle Williamson has joined AFL Victoria as Country Football Manager.

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Peter King, Chief Executive of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), has announced that he will leave his role after 11 successful years. During his time at MCEC, King was focused on maximising the venue’s impact for Melbourne and Victoria, and in 2019 MCEC had a record economic impact to the state, exceeding $1.1 billion.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, King embraced the challenges this presented by managing the transformation and diversification of the business.

This included supporting the Victorian Government’s vaccination rollout and adapting the space to attract partners such as The LUME Melbourne, Australia’s first permanent digital art gallery.

King also oversaw a comprehensive business transformation to an agile operating model, to better position MCEC to serve customers in the wake of the pandemic.

King will remain with MCEC as it manages this business transition and is committed to ensuring its success as it emerges from the acute stage of the pandemic. This time will allow for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust (MCET) to recruit his replacement.

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan to step down at end of season

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan has announced that he is to stand down from his role at the end of the current Premiership season, saying that it is the “right time” to move on with the sport in robust health. The South Australian, who has been in the AFL’s top job for eight full seasons, intended to step away before COVID-19 hit, but vowed to stay on and help guide the code through the pandemic.

During the remainder of the season, McLachlan will try to resolve four major issues: a new broadcast deal, collective bargaining agreements for both the men’s and women’s competitions, a new club funding model and plans for a Tasmanian team.

Chair and new Independent Non-Executive Director appointed to lead Viva Leisure

ASX-listed Viva Leisure Limited has announced the appointment of two Board roles encompassing a new Chair and a new independent Non-Executive Director.

Rhys Holleran, an independent Non-Executive Director of the company since September 2020, has been appointed the new Chair of Viva Leisure.

Holleran’s appointment as Chair fills the vacant position following the sad passing of previous Chair, Bruce Glanville - announced on 7th April 2022.

Andrew Burns, Chair of the company’s Audit and Risk Committee, has been appointed an independent NonExecutive Director.

The group has also announced the appointment of industry veteran Kevin Mott as National Franchise Operations Manager and Kate Allott as National Operations Manager for its Rebalance brand.

Alexandra Ash has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Gymnastics Australia. Ash joins Gymnastics Australia from her role as Executive General Manager at Y Victoria where she has led the Recreation portfolio, operating 83 facilities throughout Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia including the leadership and operation of South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, South Australia’s premier state facility.

Not new to gymnastics, Ash has served as Deputy Chair of Gymnastics Victoria and as a Non-Executive Director since May 2019.

Rugby Australia appointments

Revealing what it describes as “three key appointments to its executive team” Rugby Australia has announced that Peter Conde has taken on the role as its new Chief Performance Officer - joining the body after a five-year term as Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Sport that culminated with the outstanding performance of the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympics.

The other two appointments are Marissa Pace, who joins Rugby Australia as its new Chief Marketing Officer, and James Durbin, who becomes the sport’s new Chief Commercial Officer.

Gymnastics Clubs Australia announces inaugural inductees into industry Hall of Fame

Gymnastics Clubs Australia has revealed the induction of the first recipients into the new Gymnastics Industry’s Hall of Fame.

Presented during Gymnastics Clubs Australia’s first National Congress each of the inductees have a long history of remarkable contributions to the industry and its respective sectors.

Pioneer: John Dorrington. Revolutionised the focus on professionalising management and operations with Pit Gymnastics becoming a private club - while maintaining competitive excellence.

Outstanding Contributor: Gai Forrest. As the founder of KindyGym Australia she has placed an emphasis on early childhood gymnastics while helping spread high quality programming around the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

Outstanding Contributor: Nadine Weight. A trail blazer in developing club governance procedures, club growth planning and on-going coach PD; and sharing this and more in helping other clubs in the ACT get established.

VenuesWest appoints their first female Chair and welcomes new board member

The VenuesWest board, which oversees Western Australia’s premier sport and entertainment venues, has appointed Mary Anne Stephens as their first female Chair and welcomed new board member, Gary Dreibergs. Stephens has served on the board since 2015, bringing over 25 years’ experience in finance and operational roles both in the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, and key strengths in finance, risk and governance.

People ASM Global announces executive management changes at BCEC

ASM Global APAC has announced its activation of long-held succession plans for Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), the company’s flagship venue and one of Australia’s best performing convention Bob O’Keeff e and Kym Guesdon centres.

ASM Global (APAC) Chairman and Chief Executive, Harvey Lister AM said the executive restructure was integral to future proofing the venue for continued growth as it heads into a period of unprecedented infrastructure development ahead of Brisbane’s Olympic era.

Lister announced that BCEC’s current General Manager Bob O’Keeffe AM, will combine his new position as Chief Executive of BCEC with that of Chief Operating Officer - Venue Operations for ASM Global (APAC), a newly created role to meet the growing footprint of ASM Global APAC.

Kym Guesdon who currently carries out the dual role of ASM Global Group Director, Human Resources (HR) for the region as well as the BCEC HR Director role, has been appointed as BCEC General Manager - becoming only the second person to hold that position in the Centre’s 26-year history. The company has also announced that Rod Pilbeam (left), one of the founders of the business, will step back from his role as Chief Operating Officer to a parttime role as from July this year. Pilbeam and Harvey Lister first went into business together in the mid1970s presenting concert tours around Queensland and NSW, taking on their first formal venue operation at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Brisbane in 1982.

Adelaide 36ers make two senior appointments

The Adelaide 36ers NBL club has announced appointments to its commercial team with Helen Hobbins named as its General Manager Gameday and Growth.

With 20 years experience in the events industry, Hobbins’ last role was General Manager Corporate, Events and Gameday Experiences at Port Adelaide AFL Club.

Dale Fletcher has joined the 36ers as General Manager Digital, Media and Communications after a long media career, most recently as Deputy Sports Editor of Adelaide’s News Corporation-owned, The Advertiser.

VMA announces its Board Members

The Venue Management Association has announced the results of the 2022 Board Election having called for nominations to fill five vacant Active Board positions.

The VMA is pleased to welcome back four returning Directors - Heather Clarke AVM, Brendan Hines, Phil King AVM, and Paul Sergeant OBE.

In addition, the VMA proudly introduces its newest Board Member, Brett Caldwell AVM, who commenced his three year term as of 16th May.

Caldwell is currently the Head of IT Infrastructure at the Arts Centre Melbourne. For the last two and half years, he has been combining his experience in corporate IT and event technology in a values-based environment. He has a wealth of ticketing technology experience and has worked with venues, sports, and music festivals of all sizes across Australia.