The 2016 Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress theme is: ‘Innovate – Integrate – Motivate”, and will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), Australia, from 15 to 18 May 2016.
Highlights of this year’s Congress include presentations on Live Music, Arts & Cultural Festivals; Safety and Security within Mass Gathering Environments; Data Analytics; Viable Regional Venues; Venue Architecture and Interior Design; Human Resources and Litigation; Venue Design and Technology; Live Music Promoters and Ticketing; Brisbane’s World Class Venues; Rise of South-East Asian Venues; Food & Beverage Planning and Delivery; Event Sponsorship Trends and Opportunities; Environmental Programs for Venues; Crisis Media Management; Major Events Across Diverse Sectors; and much, much more!
Venue Management Association Asia Pacific (VMA) Chief Executive, Steve Romer, commented:
Following a record-breaking 2015 Congress, this year’s Congress will share new and exciting ways to innovate, integrate and motivate in today’s modern and contemporary venues.
The 2016 Congress will challenge traditional thinking around how venue professionals innovate, integrate and motivate within a modern venue environment. It’s been over 20 years since we’ve been to Brisbane, and we’re very excited that this year’s destination will play an important role in bringing together the largest gathering of venue professionals in our region.
The Congress will also feature a gathering of world-class speakers, including (but is not limited to):
Tony Cochrane – Founding Director, International Entertainment Consulting
Bill Hauritz – Founder & Director, Woodford Folk Festival
Peter Noble – Founder & Director, Bluesfest Byron Bay
Roger Field – COO, Live Nation Australia and New Zealand
Karen Totaro – General Manager, Atlantic City Convention Center USA
Alan Graham – General Manager, Suncorp Stadium
Todd Greenberg – CEO, National Rugby League Australia
Guy Ngata – CEO, Eden Park Trust New Zealand
John Kotzas – CEO, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Cliff Wallace – Chairman, Shenyang New World Expo (Management) Ltd, China
Michael Harrison – Tour Director, Frontier Touring
Matthew Lazarus-Hall – CEO, Chugg Entertainment
Tim McGregor – COO, Dainty Group
Tim Worton – Group General Manager Arenas, AEG Ogden
Leighton Wood – COO, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Craig Sheridan – Sheridan Consulting (former Commander State Planning Unit NSW Police)
Phillip Di Bella – Founder & Director, Di Bella Coffee
Danny Baade – Head of Security, 2018 Commonwealth Games
Peter Hallinan – Queensland Police, Business Liaison Unit
Jim Fidler – Director, Secure Events & Assets
Stuart Barnes – General Manager, WIN Stadium & Entertainment Centre
Tim Pow – General Manager, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre
Chris Dodds – Managing Director, The P.A. People
James Pearce – Senior Associate, Populous
David Sheehan – Executive Director, Asset Management – Plenary Group
Steve Drury – Head of Development & Marketing, The P.A. People
Lars Brandle – Billboard Magazine Journalist, Australia New Zealand
Troy & Zara Swindells Grose – Directors, Humour Australia
Michael Enoch – General Manager, Studio City Event Centre, Macau China
Ian Love – Catering Manager, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Kim Pengelly – Deputy General Manager, Woodford Folk Festival
James Irvine – Director Global Partnerships, AEG Ogden
Sheila Nguyen – Director, Sports Environmental Alliance
Peter Wearne – General Manager Facilities, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Kim Tran – Director Policy & Programs, Live Performance Australia
Darren Burden – General Manager, VBase, New Zealand
Nelita Byrne – Venues Manager, Yarrow Stadium/TSB Bowl of Brooklands/TSB Stadium
Karen Middleton – Freelance Journalist (former SBS Chief Political Correspondent)
Bruce Whitehead – Director, Mock Court International Pty Ltd
Gary Thomas – Manager, Technical and Design – International Projects, AEG Ogden
Carly Whetham – Assistant Director (Events & Sports), Australian Sports Commission
For further information on the VMA and the Congress, go to: www.vma.org.au or www.vmacongress.com