The VMA Board
The VMA is governed by a Board of ten Active Members and two Allied Non-Executive Members who are elected by our VMA Members.
Board Directors serve for a three-year term and may nominate for re-election if they wish.
Each year, the VMA Board elects from within its own ranks the statutory positions of VMA Chairman (President); Chairman Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (Treasurer); Chairman Membership Committee (Secretary); Chairman Professional Development Committee (VMS representative); and Chairman Congress Committee.
These statutory positions form the Executive Committee, with all other Directors serving on one or more of those committees as allocated.
Current VMA Board

Leighton Wood - VMA President
Leighton Wood joined the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in November 2010 as Deputy Chief Executive.
In February 2012 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive and currently oversees a team of more than 700 employees across Operations, Food and Beverage, Technology, Planning, Security & Safety and Capital Works while also managing the working relationship with MCEC’s partners, Plenary Group and BGIS.
The 70,000sqm MCEC sits on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD and hosts an average of 1,200 business, cultural and entertainment events annually, attracting up to 2.6 million visitors and generating as much as $1 billion in economic impact for the Victorian economy.
Leighton is responsible for the day to day delivery of the MCEC product and provides high level strategic advice to the Executive Team and Trust, particularly in the areas of future business planning and ongoing organisational improvement. He is also passionate about sustainability and has driven significant reductions in MCEC’s environmental footprint.
He is currently President of the Venue Management Association of Asia Pacific.
Prior to MCEC, Leighton held a number of senior executive roles for various organisations, including the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne Major Events Company, Sport Knowledge Australia and the Princess Alexandra Hospital Foundation.

Chris Farrell AVM - Chair, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

David Krug - Chair, Membership & Marketing Committee

Paul Sergeant OBE - Chair, Congress Committee

Phil King AVM - Chair, Professional Development Committee

Anthony Duffy AVM - Member, Professional Development Committee
1997 graduated Venue Management School 2010 awarded the inaugural “Allied Venue Profe ssional of the Year” 2010 represented the VMA as exchange instructor 2013 completed the US Graduate Institute 2013 awarded “Accredited Venue Manager” status by the Venue Management Association 2015 one of only four Australians to be awarded the coveted IAVM’s “Chairman’s Citation”, recognising commitment to development of education in the industry, primarily through the establishment of the Australian Leadership Institute 2019 inducted as a “Fellow” of the Customer Service Institute of Australia

Brendan Hines - Member, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee
Vacancy

Heather Clarke - Member, Congress Committee

Judy Vince CVE - Member, Membership & Marketing Committee

Natalie Valentine - Member, Membership & Marketing Committee
