Join us for the After 5! Networking event at the Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre, Thursday 5th October from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm with Guest Speaker Avril Harris, Director, Corporate and Partnerships at Major Events Gold Coast.

 

Avril Harris

Director, Corporate and Partnerships

Major Events Gold Coast

 

Avril is a seasoned events professional with over two decades of experience in the industry, spanning corporate, community, government and major events.

In 2020, she assumed the role of Director, Corporate and Partnerships at Major Events Gold Coast, a newly established entity under the City of Gold Coast. Avril played a pivotal role supporting the entity’s establishment, shaping the organisation’s strategic vision as well as overseeing and managing the corporate services and governance functions. Additionally, she led the re-design and implementation of a strategic event investment framework for the Gold Coast to attract new, and support the growth of existing events, which resulted in the doubling of economic and visitation outcomes of the city’s event portfolio within three years.

Prior to joining Major Events Gold Coast, Avril was the Director of the Queensland Government’s Safer Schoolies Response, supporting a program of health and welfare, safety and security, and diversionary activities to support young people during the Schoolies holiday period. Avril collaborated with community and government partners to design a range of initiatives focussed on improved awareness and enhanced support services around sexual health, wellbeing, and alcohol and drug use.

Avril also contributed to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games when she led the preliminary scoping and project development for the statewide GC2018 Arts and Cultural Program, before taking on a role managing the operational delivery of the Festival 2018 Gold Coast Program.  Leading the integration of the first arts and cultural program delivered within a Commonwealth Games organising committee. 

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

 

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in Sydney at Accor Stadium from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm with guest speaker Scott Henderson, who was the Venue General Manager (Sydney) for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Guest Speaker: Scott Henderson

 

 

 

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

 

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in Perth at RAC Arena from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Damian Martin, former Wildcats Captain

• NBL – 2007-2020
• Perth Wildcats captain 2009-2020
• 6 x NBL Champion
• NBL Grand Final MVP
• 6 x NBL Defensive Player of the Year award winner
• 2016 Olympian
• 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

• This After 5! Networking event is in conjunction with the operational professional development workshop which will be held prior to this event – click here to see further information on the operational workshop in Perth.

 

Join us for this After 5! Networking event at ICC Sydney, Sydney from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm as we discuss Digital transformation and cyber security in our industry with:

Facilitator:

Glen Bourke
Director of Trafalgar Consulting Group

 

 

Glen is the Director of Trafalgar Consulting Group, specialising in security and risk management advice across various industries and sectors.

Glen spent the initial part of his working life in the Australian Defence Force.

During his 20+ year career, Glen completed several operational deployments in high-risk environments, including Iraq and Southern Ocean deployments.

He also had the privilege of exchanging knowledge with the Royal Navy as a Maritime Warfare instructor.

Glen then moved into the government sector, serving in operational management roles in maritime and aviation for the Tasmanian Ports Corporation before transitioning into the private sector.

Glen held national management positions in the private sector for major security providers for Scentre Group and Vicinity shopping centres, major sporting stadiums, and critical infrastructure providers.

He collaborated on significant security and operational planning for some of Australia’s most prominent corporate precincts, where his expertise was invaluable.

Glen has recently been consulting in the security risk and emergency management space. He continues to expand his knowledge in emergency management and critical incident and disaster recovery, further cementing his expertise in the field and has undertaken formal studies in Security and Counter – Terrorism risk management.

Glen’s strength lies in applying thematic risk management processes to large-scale critical infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and stadiums.

 

Speakers:

Chris Hatcher
Co-Founder – Operations Director Securecy

 

 

Chris’s career spans more than 25 years in web and systems development.

Always at the forefront of technology, Chris combines creativity with practicality to create pragmatic digital solutions.

With innovation as a constant driving factor, Chris has developed successful businesses and sophisticated digital models in publishing, marketing and workforce management.

In 2015, Chris was asked to develop an end-to-end workforce management platform for the security industry to cover all aspects of compliance, HR, rostering and reporting.

And so Securecy was born.

Securecy has gone on to revolutionise workforce management for complex and highly regulated industries, including security, events, critical infrastructure, and health and aged care.

In recent years, Chris and his team have worked with some of Australia’s leading stadium and event managers, as well as security providers to develop ‘Stadium Manager’ – a unique, seamless, digital solution for workforce deployments and management at stadiums and events.

 

 

Roman Quaedvlieg
Director, Critical Infrastructure and National Security

 

 

Roman highly experienced senior executive with senior public sector appointments including Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) (2015- 18); CEO of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (2013-15); and ACT Chief Police Officer (2010-13).

As the ABF Commissioner, Roman had direct reporting responsibility to the Federal Minister and the Australian Parliament for a range of functions including customs, immigration, Australian trade flows, maritime enforcement and combatting border crime. In this capacity, he oversaw an operating budget of $2.5 billion and led a 6,000-strong workforce delivering both operational and corporate support functions.

He has been an integral part protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure and is still intimately involved in Aviation and Maritime Security in Australia working with Airports, Seaports, Airlines and Security Service providers.

Roman is currently the Director for Critical Infrastructure and National Security for Excelium Consulting, a company that provides specialist consulting services in Cyber Security, Critical Infrastructure, Digital Identity and National Security. Excelium counts among its clients, major airports, major maritime ports, energy providers and Federal Government Departments including Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Home Affairs.

 

 

Dr. Philip Bos
CEO – BlueKee

 

 

Dr. Philip Bos embarked on a distinguished security career in Australia, following his intelligence service tenure in Israel. He is the founder of the Community Security Groups (CSG) in Australia and New Zealand (A&NZ).

For over twenty years, Philip has spearheaded the A&NZ CSGs, expertly managing and orchestrating various major event types, including sporting and communal events at Australia’s most prominent stadiums. As the security lead for the Westfield enterprise and family for two decades, he was entrusted with comprehensive responsibility, planning, and execution of security for the directors during notable global events such as the 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics. Stadium security and major event planning remain key areas of Philip’s expertise.

Under his stewardship, News Corp (A&NZ) group of companies and the family established a robust in-house security capability. Philip devised a pioneering protection mechanism for over 8,000 journalists, incorporating public domain record (PDR) suppression. This innovative program safeguarded journalists by moving them “off the grid” to prevent targeted attacks.

Philip’s responsibilities at News Corp expanded into national media agency privacy advocacy, encompassing major Australian news outlets and the Attorney Generals’ department. His advocacy for citizen privacy was well ahead of its time, long before large-scale hacking emerged.

After witnessing a close colleague and friend suffer from total identity theft and the inadequacies of the law enforcement and identity recovery system, Philip established BlueKee. This groundbreaking venture has become Australia’s premier digital identity system, providing impeccable user identification to enterprises without storing any personal data.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Bos is an esteemed academic with numerous published papers and teaching roles at several prestigious universities in New South Wales and Victoria.

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

Join us as Dean Hassall CVE talks with Richard May Director of Venues in the Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Office within the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning at the After 5! Networking event on the Sky Terrace at BCEC in Brisbane from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

Richard May
Director of Venues in the Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Office

 

Richard May is the Director of Venues in the Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Office within the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. In his role, Richard is responsible for the Minor Venues program, which includes 13 of the new and redeveloped venues to be delivered as part of the Brisbane 2032 Masterplan.

Prior to working on the Olympic/Paralympic Infrastructure program, Richard spent seven years with the Department of Tourism Innovation and Sport, most recently as Acting Executive Director responsible for Sport and Recreation owned and operated venues. This role I also included responsibility for delivery of the Venues Capital Program as well as being accountable for the successful delivery of Sport and Recreation funded projects across the State.

Richard has had a variety of other roles within the sector including working for the Australian Sports Commission for eight years and for a County Sports Partnership in the UK.

Richard holds a Master’s degree in Learning Management and prior to working in the public service spent several years as a Teacher of Physical Education and within the Construction Industry.

 

 

• This After 5! Networking event is in conjunction with the operational professional development workshop which will be held prior to this event – click here to see further information on the operational workshop in Brisbane.

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in Melbourne at MCEC from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm, as VMA Chief Executive Michael Brierley talks with new MCEC CEO Natalie O’Brien AM about her experiences, insights, and exciting plans for the future of MCEC and its commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and driving economic activity in Victoria.

The future of MCEC looks bright, with exciting opportunities on the horizon, including the Convention Centre in Geelong. Natalie will share her insights into the plans for the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which aims to enhance Geelong’s position as a premier city and events leader in Victoria.

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

Natalie O’Brien AM
Chief Executive, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

 

• This After 5! Networking event is in conjunction with the operational professional development workshop which will be held prior to this event – click here to see further information on the operational workshop in MCEC.

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in Adelaide at Adelaide Oval from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

Speaker:

Zoe Bettison MP, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs in the South Australian Malinauskas Labor Government.

She is focused on building back the visitor economy from the uncertainty and impacts of COVID-19, with attention on South Australia’s brand pillars of ‘natural therapy’, ‘accessible provenance’, ‘wildlife encounters’, ‘boutique capital’ and ‘loves a party’.

From 2018-2022, Zoe held the role of Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.

Zoe became a Minister in 2014 and worked progressing the South Australian Government’s reform agenda on ageing, multicultural affairs, social housing and youth. During her time as Minister, she made energy bills cheaper for concession-holders, introduced the Cost of Living Concession, tripled the budget for multicultural affairs and gave people living in Retirement Villages a stronger voice.

Zoe was elected to the South Australian Parliament as the Member for Ramsay in 2012. She has a longstanding interest in education, training and business investment. Participation in the economy for all South Australians is a key driver for her interest in politics.

Born in Whyalla, Zoe lived in Gawler and Kapunda where she attended Kapunda High School. She now lives in Salisbury with her husband and son.

She has a BA from Flinders University and a MBA from the University of Adelaide.

Prior to her election Zoe worked for an iconic Australian tourism operator and was a director of a public affairs company.

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

• This After 5! Networking event is in conjunction with the operational professional development workshop which will be held prior to this event – click here to see further information on the operational workshop in Adelaide.

Join us as Milton OBrien CVE talks with Jason Mathie Chief Operating Officer of the Canberra Raiders at the After 5! Networking event in the Bradroom at Manuka Oval in Canberra from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

 

  

     

Jason Mathie
Chief Operating Office at Canberra Raiders

 

  28 Seasons with Raiders Group 

• 1994 – 2002: QLC / Canberra Raiders Sports Club
• 2002 – 2011: Canberra Raiders Pty Ltd (Football Manager)
•  2013 – Current: Canberra Raiders Pty Ltd Chief Operating Officer (Commercial & Marketing)

NB: Had 12 months off in season 2012.

Current Areas of Responsibility

Club Wide

•  Human Resource Management
• ICT
• Procurement
• Governance
• Major Partnerships
• Raiders Foundation

Department Oversight & Reporting

Administration (including Finance & Payroll)

• Facilities
• Corporate & Hospitality
• Membership & Ticketing
• Game Day & Events
• Retail & Licensing
• Brand & Marketing
• Media & Digital
• Community Programs

 

 

Milton OBrien CVE

Senior Director of Venues and Commercial at Venues Canberra

Milton OBrien CVE is currently the Senior Director of Venues and Commercial for Venues Canberra with oversite of GIO Stadium, Manuka Oval and Exhibition Park. He is responsible for the acquisition and delivery of venue content for all three venues as well as increasing the commercial return on the venues commercial rights.

With over 24 years’ experience in Stadia and indoor Arena’s Milton started his venue management career in Wollongong opening the WIN Entertainment Centre in 1998 and managing WIN Stadium.

From 2009 t0 2013 Milton worked in Qatar as General Manager of Venues and Visitor Services for Aspire Zone commercialising the various venues and developing content across the Aspire Zone.

In 2013 Milton returned to Sydney to take up the role as Acting General Manager of Parramatta Stadium starting a $29m redevelopment. In that time the Western Sydney Wanderers won the Asian Champions League selling out Parramatta Stadium throughout that time.

Milton has worked as a consultant on the new Port Moresby Stadium opening the venue in January 2016 and worked for a number of sporting franchises including licence bids for football and netball.

Milton is a former Board member of the VMA and a Certified Venue Executive.

 

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

• This After 5! Networking event is in conjunction with the operational professional development workshop which will be held prior to this event – click here to see further information on the operational workshop in Canberra.

Join us as Matthew Howe AVM talks with Alastair Richardson, Director of COX Architecture at the After 5! Networking event in Melbourne at the Arts Centre Melbourne from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

 

Alastair Richardson

Director of COX Architecture

 

 

Alastair is a Principal Director at COX, renowned for his work in sport and sports architecture. He is responsible for the design and delivery of global civic and Sport projects that deliver a fan first experience, providing enhanced revenue for owners and operators.

Throughout his career, Alastair has been the Sport architect and Director for WestpacTrust Stadium, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Eden Park Redevelopment, Suncorp Stadium, Adelaide Oval, SCG Northern Stand, NiB Stadium and was the Director for the new Optus Stadium in Perth. He has worked on all but one of the Australian Football League venues and several projects for Australia’s professional soccer league.

Alastair’s extensive knowledge and unparalleled expertise within the sport sector has allowed him to develop a series of unique strategies to assist clients and Governments in the creation of new developments. His strategic and future-focused insights have helped define the needs of major sports infrastructure facilities throughout the Asia Pacific.

His work has been recognised internationally and locally with numerous architectural and industry awards. Alastair is a thought-leader within the Sport architecture field, regularly appearing at industry conferences and contributing to international publications.

 

 

Matthew Howe AVM (Facilitator)

Managing Director of Avision Advisory

 

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in Perth at Perth Concert Hall from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm, where VMA Board Director Olivia Birket AVM talks with Drew Dymond, Acting Director Venue Operations for the Arts and Culture Trust.

Drew Dymond

Acting Director Venue Operations

The Arts and Culture Trust

 

 

Drew Dymond is the Acting Director Venue operations for the Arts and Culture Trust. Which overseas operations at His Majestys Theatre , State Theatre Centre , Subiaco Arts Centre and Albany Entertainment Centre.

Prior to this Drew Dymond was manager of the Albany Entertainment Centre.

The venue caters for the broader community of the Great Southern, has a 600 seat auditorium, conference rooms , studio and restaurant. Programming is a mix of local content, school shows, State and National touring, tribute bands and everything in between.

Prior to this role Drew was the technical director for the Perth Festival for 18 years.

Drew is also a committee member of CircuitWest and board member of PAC Australia, advocacy organisations that support performing arts sector and national touring of Australian works.

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.

 

 

Join us for the next After 5! Networking event in New Zealand, hosted in conjunction with EVANZ, at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm wih Guest Speakers Danielle Thompson CPA, Director of Business Services at Te Pae Convention Centre and Caroline Harvie-Teare, Chief Executive at Venues Ōtautahi.

Danielle Thompson CPA

Director of Business Services

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre

 

 

 

Danielle has held a number of hospitality roles in New Zealand and Australia over the past 20 years – including working as part of the pre-opening team for two hotels in Sydney – and also spent time at the New Zealand High Commission in Singapore. Initially working in culinary front-of-house, it was while completing her hospitality degree she realised finance would be a great fit and was able to move internally into a finance role. She then went on to complete an accounting degree and gain her CPA qualification.

A passionate venue professional, Danielle started with Te Pae as Finance Manager in 2019 and has recently moved into the role of Director of Business Services, where she leads the administration, finance, payroll and purchasing teams.

Outside of work Danielle has a strong interest in governance, and holds a number of local and national governance roles.

 

Caroline Harvie-Teare

Chief Executive

Venues Ōtautahi

 

 

 

Caroline is the Chief Executive of Venues Ōtautahi. Venues Ōtautahi own the Christchurch Town Hall and Wolfbrook Arena and manage Apollo Projects Stadium, Hagley Oval, the Airforce Museum of NZ and Te Kaha, Canterbury’s new Stadium due to open in April 2026. Caroline is a born and bred Cantabrian and feels privileged to play a role in looking after the city’s most iconic assets on behalf of the community.  

 

After 5! Networking events are FREE for all VMA and EVANZ Members and their invited guests. This is a brilliant opportunity for you and your guests to come together to maintain and develop new venue industry connections, so don’t miss out!

Not a financial VMA Member, please contact Amanda Jamieson on (07) 5575 9185 or membership@vma.org.au to secure your attendance.