Events and entertainment industry legend Harvey Lister inducted into Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame

In recognition of an outstanding contribution to the Events and Entertainment industry for over more than 50 years, Harvey Lister AM has been inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame. Lister’s contribution to the sectors includes the management of an array of renowned stadiums and arenas.

Lister is one of six new Hall of Fame members announced tonight (24th July) at the 2025 induction dinner at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The business leaders have been recognised for their outstanding economic and cultural contributions to the state – and for being part of the Hall of Fame’s milestone 100th inductee cohort.

The 2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame inductees are: 
•Buderim Ginger
•The late Betty Byrne Henderson AM
•Keri Craig-Lee OAM
•Harvey Lister AM
•Euan Murdoch
•Sunny Queen Australia

The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, which now has 105 members, was established by QUT and the State Library of Queensland in 2009 to recognise the state’s most influential business leaders.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO said the legacy of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame was a testament to the power of collaboration between education and cultural institutions.

Professor Sheil noted “these Queensland business leaders are shaping our communities, economies and futures.

“And their journeys offer powerful examples to our students of what is possible across industries and generations, reflecting the dynamism and diversity of our state.

“The awards celebrate our deep connection with Queensland’s business community and exemplify our commitment to real-world impact through collaboration with industry leaders. Their stories enrich our curriculum, and many inductees go on to contribute to QUT programs as guest lecturers, mentors and partners.”

State Librarian and Chief Executive Vicki McDonald AM said by celebrating these visionary leaders, we recognise not only their achievements, but also the important role of business in shaping Queensland’s cultural and economic story.

McDonald advised “this year’s inductees reflect the ingenuity and resilience that define our business landscape, and their stories will inspire future generations. 
“The remarkable contributions of the state’s business leaders are captured in State Library’s extensive collection, and we are proud to add these extraordinary inductees to that enduring legacy.”

Lister is the Chairman and Chief Executive (Asia-Pacific and Middle East & North Africa) for Legends/ASM Global, which operates major venues worldwide, including Brisbane’s own Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

He has been involved in the presentation of more than 40,000 major events across sport, the arts, and conventions and exhibitions, including Olympic and Paralympic Games, G20 meetings, World Cups, and thousands of conferences and concerts.

Through his venue management, he has presented artists to Australian audiences including Elton John, INXS, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, U2, Lady Gaga, One Direction and Taylor Swift.

And it may all never have happened, had it not been for a part-time job during high school at his local newsagency.

One day the owners asked him if he would take their daughters on a school holiday outing while they worked – a favour that opened his eyes to the sparkling world of live entertainment.

Lister shared “they said ‘would you mind taking the girls – catch the tram, it’s down in Victoria Park, there’ll be a tent there, it’s called ‘Disney on Ice’.

“We walked into this massive tent and I just sat there wide-eyed.”

After school he did a radio and TV course and landed a job as a store announcer at Myer Fortitude Valley. That quickly turned into PR jobs in the early 1970s at two shopping centres managed by Myer at the time – Brookside and Chermside.

At Chermside, he had his first direct involvement with promoters and acts.

“I did a deal with the Edgleys and brought Disney on Ice to the shopping centre – the centre was jam-packed, it was extraordinary,” he said.

Those shopping centre roles gave Lister many radio contacts, which led him to found the Queensland Rock Music Awards at Colour Radio 4IP and start working with concert promoters.

In 1975 he launched a concert and event management business and got his big break setting up a tour for Australian band Sherbert. More tours followed, ranging from Stevie Wonder to AC/DC.

Brisbane’s failed bid for the 1992 Olympic Games opened another door.

The new Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall had been designed and built to host Olympic gymnastics events but instead became a major entertainment venue under a consortium led by Lister.

The consortium turned into venue management group Queensland Leisure and, after a series of mergers, became part of ASM Global in 2019.

Now Chairman and Chief Executive (Asia-Pacific and Middle East & North Africa) for Legends/ASM Global, Lister is proud of the opportunities the company has created for Queenslanders.

Lister added “we always believe we create careers for people, not just jobs. We have people from Brisbane working all over the world; we’ve got a whole bunch of them in Hong Kong (this year) opening the brand new 50,000-seat dome stadium, Kai Tak Stadium.

“We’re lucky now that we’re part of a global family … 412 venues around the world, 38 of the great stadiums of the world, hundreds of indoor entertainment arenas, 86 major convention centres, and hundreds of other types of venues.”

Lister said Brisbane 2032 would bring new opportunities for Legends/ASM Global.

“We’re looking forward to not just our existing managed venues being part of the solution for the Olympics, but also for us to be involved in some of the new venues,” he said.

“I think Queensland will be really well set up for the long term with what these venues can deliver in our communities.”

Images from top. Harvey Lister inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre;  Lister with his wife Margie and P!nk; AEG Ogden Exec Team with Elton John at Perth Arena; Lister and Roger Davies in 1976; Lister inside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre; Lister in the spotlight.