COVID response commander to lead Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee

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.

Having previously Head of Transport Services at the Department of Transport and Chief Executive of VicRoads, as well as the former Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria, Weimar most recently served as the operational leader of Victoria’s COVID-19 response from July 2020 to April 2022.

Weimar held senior roles in the United Kingdom before arriving in Australia, including Chief Operating Officer of the UK Bus division of First Group and Chief Operating Officer of Transport for London in the lead up to London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will lead the delivery of the Games, managing venues and services, logistics, partnerships and engagement, as well as media, broadcasting and communications.

Working closely with the Office of the Commonwealth Games, the two bodies will liaise with stakeholders including regional councils, the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia to ensure regional Victoria shines on the world stage.

Four regional hubs will be established in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with their own athlete’s village and sport program. The regional hubs will host athletes, officials and fans following an Opening Ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, using Melbourne as the gateway to regional Victoria.

Victoria 2026 will extend far beyond sporting competition, with the Queen’s Baton Relay, warm-up tournaments and training camps, an extensive cultural program, live sites and activations in towns and cities across the state.

It is estimated the 2026 Commonwealth Games will contribute more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy, creating more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs before the Games, 3,900 jobs during the Welcoming his appointment, Weimar commented “I’m excited to lead a team that will work hand in glove with local communities to deliver Victoria 2026 - celebrating the Commonwealth’s greatest athletes and our state’s rich culture and diversity.”