Principal, Dean Hassall Consulting

As Principal of Dean Hassall Consulting Pty Ltd (DHC), Dean applies over 25 years of industry experience by leading a boutique consultancy that provides advisory services in the areas of major public venue and events management and operations, facility development, and venue business improvement strategies. Government and corporate venue owners and developers, venue managers and operators, hirers, and service providers to the events and entertainment industry—all of DHC’s clients rely on strategic and operational input based on business management expertise honed within the venue management profession.

Prior to his 13 years of consultancy services both around Australia and internationally, Dean has previously held a number of senior management positions in the sport, major venue and event industry in Queensland, including:
• Chief Executive Officer, North Queensland Fury Football Club
• Assistant General Manager, Suncorp Stadium, AEG Ogden
• Manager – Business Development, Sport and Recreation Queensland
• Manager – Venues & Operations, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane
• Venue Manager, ANZ Stadium, (now Queensland Sports & Athletics Centre), Nathan, Brisbane
• Venue Manager, The Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler, Brisbane
Numerous Board and Committee representations have been fulfilled by Dean, including former Vice Chairman of the Brisbane Racing Club, acting as the Queensland Government’s representative on the Board of the Major Sports Facility Authority (now Stadiums Queensland) and a past Director of Queensland Athletics.

Dean is a long-term member of the Venue Management Association’s Venue Management School Committee and is the current Chair of the school. Dean is a graduate of this school and in 1998 was awarded the Ogden IFC Scholarship as outstanding student. For over 18 years, Dean has been an Instructor at the Venue Management School and has lectured internationally on behalf of the Venue Management School as guest instructor at the IAVM Venue Management School when held in Oglebay, West Virginia. In 2020, Dean was selected as a resident instructor for the IAMV Venue Management School now held annually in Tampa Bay Florida, only the second Australian based industry professional to achieve this honour.

In 2010, Dean Hassall was elected to the Venue Management Association Council as the Allied Member Representative and served until May 2017. In May 2011, Dean was announced 2011 VMA Allied Venue Professional of the Year.

Educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Certificate in Management from Queensland University of Technology and a graduate of the VMS Graduate Institute Oglebay USA. Dean has been awarded the CVE, the elite credential of the International Association of Venue Managers; which designates recipient as an expert in venue management (all areas) and wholly dedicated to advancement of the venue industry.

Group Director, People and Culture (APAC), ASM Global (Asia Pacific)

Rebecca (Becc) Barry is the Group Director, People and Culture for ASM Global (APAC). Becc has held a number of senior positions across her career, including the establishment of the team to operate Stadium Australia ahead of the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
With VenuesLive for a number of years, Becc was most recently the General Manager, Organisational Development based in Sydney and prior to that relocated to Perth for two years and led the establishment of the permanent and casual teams for Optus Stadium as the General Manager, Human Resources.
Becc spent ten fabulous years at the RAS of NSW as the General Manager, Human Resources. In this role she also oversaw the successful development of the Sydney Royal Easter Show Event Volunteer Program consisting of over 400 event customer service volunteers.
Becc has also worked for the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham in London, as well as in the hospitality and publishing industries.
Her expertise spans recruitment, training, performance management, industrial relations, policy development and change management.
Becc has a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is an Accredited Venue Manager and a Certified Professional with the Australian Human Resources Institute.

Director, Tacoma Venues & Events (TVE)

Adam Cook CVE serves as the Director of Tacoma Venues & Events (TVE) where he is responsible for leading the operations and management of the City’s public assembly facilities. TVE manages renowned venues, including the Tacoma Dome (5,000-23,000 capacity); the Greater Tacoma Convention Center (119,000 sq.ft.); Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers; and the historic Pantages and Rialto Theaters, and Theatre on the Square.

Adam has led sports and entertainment venues across North America for more than 20 years.  His experience includes serving as Deputy Director for TVE, Vice President of Business Operations for Seafair (Seattle, WA), Vice President and General Manager at the Rose Quarter (Portland, OR), Venue Director and General Manager at Edmonton Expo Centre and Rexall Place (Edmonton, AB, Canada), and Acting General Manager for Global Spectrum at Comcast Arena (Everett, WA).

Adam currently serves as 2^nd Vice Chair for the International Association of Venue Managers’ (IAVM’s) Board of Directors, and on IAVM’s Venue Management School Board of Regents. He has served on IAVM’s Governance, Arenas, and Membership committees, as a member of its Board of Directors, and as a part of Region 4’s leadership.  He was named a recipient of the Venues Today Generation Next Award in 2014, and has engaged in speaking opportunities and published articles throughout the industry.

Chief Operating Officer, Melbourne Convention

Helen Fairclough is the Chief Operating Officer of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), a role to which she was appointed in June 2021.
She originally returned to her hometown Melbourne, Australia from California, USA to join the award-winning MCEC six years ago as their Director of People and Culture and then her role broadened to include responsibility for Business Improvement and Innovation along with People and Culture.
At the end of 2019 Helen was appointed to Acting COO role (due to the existing COO’s long service leave) for five months and then, following the significant impact of COVID-19 on the events industry, Helen was asked to relaunch MCEC as they emerged from the global pandemic. In her role as Director of Business Relaunch, she explored and delivered innovative ideas to generate new opportunities and revenue streams whilst looking at ways to sustain MCEC’s traditional business. All of that was underpinned by the introduction of Agile and new ways of working into MCEC.
Prior to MCEC, Helen was the Manager, Global Human Resources Strategy and Talent Management for the Downstream and Chemicals division of Chevron Corporation in San Ramon, California.
She has worked in France, the UK, US and Australia and has thirty years of global business experience, ranging from start-up to Fortune 3, in industries as diverse as retail, advertising, government/public sector, creative arts, hospitality, tourism & events, insurance, law, consulting, manufacturing and energy (oil/gas).
Helen is a Non-Executive Director of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Executive Council Member of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and member of the Australian American Chamber Commerce Board (San Francisco, USA).
Her interests include live music, travelling, fashion (especially shoes) and sport. Helen also pursued a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Swinburne University of Technology.

Chief Commercial Officer, South Australian Cricket Association

Phil King is the current Chief Commercial Officer at the South Australian Cricket Association. Previously, Phil was the General Manager of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Coopers Stadium. His role encompasses the overall managerial responsibility for the operational and commercial aspects of both venues.
The Adelaide Entertainment Centre is Adelaide’s best concert and theatre venue. It is the most flexible venue of its type in Australia, boasting an Arena and a standalone Theatre, allowing the team to run concurrent events utilising both venues at the same time. This provides a flexibility of being able to offer appropriate spaces from 500 patrons up to 12,000.
Coopers Stadium is home to the Hyundai A-League’s Adelaide United Football Club and host to several 2023 Women’s World Cup football matches. The Stadium boasts an immaculate playing surface coupled with an intimate ambience and great viewing. Coopers Stadium is also a fantastic outdoor concert venue. With a capacity of up to 26,000 for concerts, the atmosphere within this boutique Stadium is electric and the sightlines superb for live music fans.
Sitting at an Executive Level, his role encompasses team leadership, business development, customer relations management, negotiation of hiring terms, guiding the financial performance of the business to maximise profits and cash flow, marketing of the venues and its services and ensuring a high quality theatre experience.
Phil is well recognised as a Senior Venue Management Professional with more than 20 years’ experience across Stadia and Arenas.
Prior to Adelaide, Phil was the Director of Live Entertainment at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICCS) from 2016 to 2018.
From 2011 to 2015 Phil managed Qudos Bank Arena’s (QBA) commercial revenue generating activities and sponsorship opportunities including corporate sales and memberships, ticketing, business events, merchandising and marketing, with a real emphasis on continually developing ideas to enhance existing revenue streams.
Preceding QBA, Phil was part of the senior management team at Suncorp Stadium with key responsibilities for contract and tenant management, event day procurement, corporate sales and event day client management, managing the stadium commercial team on membership sales, corporate hospitality, functions sales, marketing and tours. Suncorp Stadium is Australia’s premier rectangular sporting venue, home to The Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Roar, Queensland State of Origin and Australian Rugby Union.
Phil commenced in the venue management industry at Etihad Stadium in 2001 (formerly Colonial Stadium).
Phil is an Accredited Venue Manager (AVM), a VMA Board Member since 2017, Chair of Professional Development for the VMA and an alumnus of the inaugural Venue Management School’s Graduate Institute Program.

General Manager, Operational Strategy, VenuesLive (NSW)

Sue Max is the General Manager, Operational Strategy, for VenuesLive (NSW) Management Services Pty Ltd. VenuesLive operates Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium in Sydney and Optus Stadium in Perth. Sue is also the Licensee of Accor Stadium, one of the largest licensed premises in NSW.

Sue has been involved in the event and venue management industry for over 35 years, working with various sporting organisations, including the Sydney Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). Just prior to the Olympic Games, Sue took up a permanent position with the Olympic Stadium (now Accor Stadium) and was part of the original team which opened the then, 110,000 seat venue in 1999. Between 2004 and 2020, Sue was the General Manager of Venue Management, overseeing Venue Operations, Event Operations and Staffing Operations & Services. The role included the operation of both Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium, the delivery of all events and the management of the Company’s 2,500+ strong NSW in-house casual workforce. From an event perspective, Sue has been involved with the planning and delivery of some of the world’s largest sports and entertainment events held in Australia. In terms of her venue management experience, Sue played a lead role in the mobilisation and operational transition into CommBank Stadium and spent six months in Perth leading the initial delivery of the pre-operational phase of services at Optus Stadium. Over recent years, Sue’s position has evolved into a strategically focussed role, undertaking a company-wide approach to VenuesLive’s core operational systems across its core strategies and standards. Particularly as it relates to safety, security, emergency and incident management, risk management, training and education programs.

Sue has a strong background and interest in stakeholder engagement and integration, risk management, public safety and has a particular passion for the development of organisational culture, staff training and capability and delivering world-class events.

General Manager People and Culture, Carlton Football Club

Donna Price is a thought leader in People, Culture and the Customer Experience, having worked in leadership roles within sports and venues over many years.

Donna has held a range of senior line management and People & Culture roles with a range of leading companies, including Westpac Banking Group, ANZ Banking Group, FOXTEL, Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Park, Marvel Stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Club.

Donna’s most recent role was the GM of People and Culture at the Melbourne Cricket Club, where she also led the CARE Customer Service program that has won numerous awards in Australia and internationally, including the coveted ‘Best of the Best’ award at the Australian Service Excellence Awards, alongside seeing the Melbourne Cricket Club being recognised globally for its customer service focus, culminating in winning the Best Medium Sized Organisation globally for its customer service in 2019.

Donna has been part of the Sports Advisory Group at Deakin University, been a member of a VFL Club Board, and has recently taken on a new challenge, moving to Carlton Football Club, as the GM People and Culture, commencing in February of this year. She has been a guest speaker at numerous conferences, including Victorian HR Summit, and a number of Customer Experience Summits, running MasterClass sessions. She also recently completed the Harvard Business School Program, Transforming the Customer Experience.

Donna’s qualifications include:

Bachelor of Arts (major in Psychology)

Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management

Masters in Counselling Psychology

Accredited Executive Coach

Accredited Targeted Selection Interviewer, Assessor and Facilitator

Accredited Facilitator and Trainer (AIM)

Registration Occupational Assessor (SHL)

General Manager, The Gabba

As a professional in the venue industry for over 20 years, Mark has held senior positions at venues around Australia, overseeing a number of major international sporting and entertainment events including all codes of football, cricket, court sports, motor sport, concerts, and festivals. Through his career, Mark has worked with all manner of venues in both private and public sectors, including stadia, arenas, race tracks, and community leisure facilities. Mark has held senior, Executive, and consulting roles with some of Australia’s leading organisations. Mark is currently General Manager at The Gabba. Through a COVID ravaged year in 2020, Mark led The Gabba team to be amongst the first venues to welcome fans back in significant numbers as well as delivering the historic 2020 AFL Grand Final. His experience covers the full gamut of venue management including all operational and event delivery areas, contract management and venue design and development. He is an enthusiastic and dedicated venue professional and brings an interactive approach to his VMS sessions. Mark has been active in the development of the venue industry in local and international markets as a Board Member with VMA for five years as well as being a member of the IAVM Diversification Committee, and a member of the IAVM Certification Board for the past five years. Mark graduated the Venue Management School in 2003, was awarded his AVM in 2013, and achieved his CVE qualification in 2015.

Chief Executive Officer, ASX Australia & New Zealand

Andrew is currently the Chief Executive Officer at ASX Australia & New Zealand. Previously, Andrew was the Chief Operating Officer at Australia’s home of live sports and entertainment, the Melbourne & Olympic Parks (M&OP) precinct.
The former Gold Coast Suns (AFL) Chief Executive Officer and experienced sports, events and venue management professional is responsible for the development and operation of a precinct which is notably acclaimed for hosting the Australian Open Tennis, one of only four Grand Slam events in the World and a key element of Victoria’s globally renowned Major Events reputation.
The precincts iconic venues, Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, John Cain Arena, Margaret Court Arena, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park and Kia Arena also host the city’s most celebrated national and international live music, sports, entertainment, conference and gala events.
He has a strong background in venue development, having overseen the development of the $144 million Metricon Stadium at Carrara, led the client team in the construction of the iconic $268 million AAMI Park and is currently leading the $272 million Stage 3 Redevelopment at M&OP.
He is a graduate from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) Senior Executive Symposium and was the recipient of the prestigious AFL Graeme Samuel Scholarship.
Andrew qualified as a Certified Practising Accountant, is an Accredited Venue Manager (AVM) and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Senior Vice President and General Manager Honda Centre and ocV!BE

Kim is Senior Vice President and General Manager for Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA, home of the National Hockey League Anaheim Ducks. She is also responsible for the development of ocVIBE venues including a 5700 seat concert hall, amphitheatre and urban park, located in a 95 acre mixed use district being built around Honda Center.
Kim was formerly Director of Venues and Events for the City of Tacoma, Washington, USA where she was responsible for the iconic 21000 seat Tacoma Dome, one of the largest wood domed structures in the world, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Cheney Stadium (AAA Baseball), and historic theatres. Kim also led the City’s Office of Arts and Cultural Vitality, and was seconded for a year to lead the Community and Economic Development Department in addition to her venue duties.
Kim joined the City of Tacoma from Comcast Arena (now Angel of the Winds Arena) in Everett, Washington where as General Manager she opened the facility in 2003. Comcast Arena was awarded the inaugural Venue Excellence Award for Arenas from the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) in 2010. She previously held venue leadership positions at the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in Toronto and at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie, Canada, with a stop at the Olympic Medals Plaza at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games.
Kim received a degree in Recreation and Physical Education from Acadia University in Wolfville, Canada. Her first job after graduation took her to Igloolik in the Eastern Canadian Arctic where she managed the construction of a recreation complex under the midnight sun.
Kim holds the Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation from IAVM. She served as Chair of the Board of Directors in 2015. During her tenure as an IAVM senior leader, she created the Legacy Program, fostered initiatives for women in leadership and diversity and inclusion, and championed the shift to effective board governance.
Kim is former Chair of the Board of Regents of the IAVM Venue Management School and currently Dean of the Graduate Institute. She was a guest instructor at the Asia-Pacific (Australia) Venue Management School in 2007 and joined the faculty of the inaugural Asia-Pacific Venue Management Association Graduate (Leadership) Institute in 2014.
Kim was named one of five inaugural “Women of Influence” in the venue management industry by trade publication Venues Today in 2007. She has received the Ray Ward Award for recognition of her contributions to education at IAVM’s Venue Management School. She has been declared one of “10 Women Buyers You Should Know”, one of “Ten Leading Women Venue Executives” and an “Entertainment Venue Executive Luminary”. In 2018 she was named Venue Executive of the Year by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA).

Director of Operations, Qudos Bank Arena

Michael Cox is the Director of Operations at Qudos Bank Arena, having oversight of the total operation of the Arena including the delivery of the Arena’s Technical Operations, Ticketing, Assets (including Presentation Services), Events Services and Security Divisions.

Michael commenced his career in the Venue Management Industry in 1999 at Qudos Bank Arena (formerly the Sydney SuperDome) in Venue Operations. In 2005 Michael joined the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation, focusing on logistics, site management, licensing and merchandising and sports presentation for the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Michael returned to Qudos Bank Arena in 2008 and has held a number of management positions before being promoted to his current role where he oversees the delivery of the Arena’s operations for the world’s largest events from Sir Paul McCartney, P!NK and Bruce Springsteen to Cirque du Soleil, Motocross, World Cups and National and International sporting fixtures.

A respected and dedicated venue professional, Michael was invited to be a part of the Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF), which was an initiative of the VMA and Australia’s biggest promoters of entertainment and sport to support the COVIDSafe reactivation of events and live audiences across Australia.

Michael has completed a Bachelor in Management from the University of Technology Sydney and has graduated from the VMS in 2009 and the LI in 2016, achieving his AVM accreditation in 2018.

Chief Operating Officer, Gema Group

Dwane joined the Gema Group as Chief Operating Officer in 2020, bringing with him 28 years’ experience in event delivery, catering and kitchen operation. Dwane is a graduate of the Venue Management School as well as holding a Diploma in Commercial Cookery. Dwane has worked in some of the world’s best hotels, stadiums and venues with stints in London, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as a major presence here in Australia. Working for chains like Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Emirates, Intercontinental Hotels and the Savoy Group. Working his way up through the kitchen to become the Group Executive Chef before making the switch to food and beverage operations and management. Dwane is part of the executive management team and oversees Gema’s group day to day operations in all 3 functional areas of the groups venue management, major event delivery and aviation lounges. Managing a national workforce in excess of 5000 staff members across events like the Melbourne F1, Moto GP, V8 Supercars, APT cup tennis as well as venues like GIO stadium, Brookvale oval, Cbus Super stadium, Queensland County Bank stadium, Central Coast stadium and Pointsbets stadium, to name a few.
Dwane joined the Gema Group following 8 years at the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and Sydney Showground as the head of Catering & Customer Service. In his previous role Dwane managed the day to day operations of all event and non-event day catering and held the sites liquor licence. He has delivered 14 Sydney Royal Easter Shows, large scale music festivals and gala dinners for 2,500 people.

Group General Counsel, ASM Global (Asia Pacific)

Adam is the Group General Counsel for ASM Global (Asia Pacific) and head of the group’s legal function for all ASM Global’s venues, divisions, subsidiaries and investments within a region that covers Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, India and Asia. Starting his career in event management, Adam worked his way up to take on a number of senior roles in venues, based both in Australia and abroad and held positions in venues including Suncorp Stadium, the Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Adam then decided to leave the industry and obtain his Juris Doctorate in Law, majoring in Corporate Law and Banking & Finance. Once admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland Roll of Solicitors and the High Court of Australia Register of Practitioners, Adam took the role as a Judge’s Associate in the Federal Court of Australia. Working with a Judge presiding on both Federal Court and Full Federal Court matters around Australia, hearings covered areas of law from copyright, tax, workplace relations, native title, admiralty and corporations law. After his Federal Court placement, Adam practiced within the Mergers & Acquisitions and Major Project’s legal teams for a number of years at one of Australia’s largest and most prestigious law firms, Clayton Utz. Following a rewarding period in private practice, Adam took the role of Legal Counsel at the International Convention Centre, Sydney (ICC Sydney) which was then under construction in Darling Harbour as part of a billion dollar redevelopment until 2017, when Adam commenced his current position as ASM Global’s Group General Counsel and took on his group wide responsibilities. In his current role, Adam has negotiated and seen through to completion a range of matters both locally and internationally, from large-scale investment acquisitions, joint ventures, naming rights, venue management agreements or extensions, all the way through to venue specific hiring, sponsorship and supply agreements.

Global Vice President, Risk at Momentus Technologies

Wayne Middleton is the Global Vice President, Risk at Momentus Technologies. Previously, Wayne was a risk management consultant and Principal of Reliance Risk. Reliance Risk helps public venues, events, sports and companies in the entertainment industry to manage risk. He has over 30 years’ experience in management and operational roles in the venues and events industries and over 20 years as a risk management professional. He is also a VMS graduate (1996). Wayne holds a Master Degree in Risk Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Diploma in Security Risk Management. He also holds a Certified Venue Executive (CVE) designation awarded by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).

Managing Director, Ticketmaster Australia

Gavin Taylor, Managing Director of Ticketmaster Australia, is a seasoned venue, business management, and sports administration professional with experience across commercial and government sectors. Gavin moved to Melbourne from Perth in January 2021 to take up the role with Ticketmaster, where he will be responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s client related businesses as it relates to the Australian market. Prior to this role, Gavin held the position of Chief Executive Officer at the West Australian Football Commission, the largest not for profit sporting governing body in the State, as well as General Manager at Perth Stadium Management, which operated the award-winning Subiaco Oval. Gavin has also had experience in the government sector and has owned successful small businesses across the health and hospitality industries. Gavin has deep industry knowledge in business strategy, government relations, organisational change management, events and facilities management. A demonstrated history in developing and fostering strong client and stakeholder relations, and building teams with a strong focus on service excellence, underpin some of leadership values which all are exhibited in his role as Managing Director. Gavin holds a Bachelor of Social Science with a specialisation in Leisure and Sports Management from Edith Cowan University, Diplomas in Management (Government & Venue Management) and is an Accredited Venue Manager (VMA). Gavin is a member of the VMA’s Venue Management School Committee and has been an Instructor since 2015.