Stephen Gough named Chair of Geelong’s Kardinia Park Stadium Trust

Former Melbourne Cricket Club Chief Executive Stephen Gough has been appointed as the new Chair of the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.

Gough led the Carlton Football Club from 1993 to 2000 before joining the Melbourne Cricket Club - a position he held for 17 years during which time he oversaw major developments of the MCG’s Northern and Great Southern stands and developing the Australian Sports Museum.

In 2015 he was appointed by the Victorian Government to a steering committee that developed a new operational model for Kardinia Park stadium, leading to the establishment of the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust in 2016.

In 2018, Gough (pictured) was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to sports administration and stadium management in Victoria.

The Kardinia Park Stadium Trust administers, promotes and manages GMHBA Stadium and attached land with an overarching objective of contributing to the economy, community and liveability of the Geelong region and the state.

Other members of the Trust board are Gillian Costa, Rob Hulls, Libby Mears, Dan Simmonds, Joe Calafiore and Bernadette Uzelac.

The jewel of Kardinia Park is GMHBA Stadium, the home of Geelong Football Club and host of more than 90 local, national and international events each year, attracting more than 400,000 visitors.

The Trust is in the planning phase for the fifth stage of the Stadium’s redevelopment.

Gough’s appointment follows the retirement of Michael Malouf from the Trust

Announcing the appointment, Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula stated “there are few people in the country more qualified to be the chair of a major stadium precinct than Stephen Gough and I know he will do a great job.

“The people of greater Geelong and south-west Victoria are justly proud of Kardinia Park and we’re ensuring it stays a premier sport and entertainment asset.”

Looking forward to his new role, Gough stated “after helping to develop Kardinia Park’s operational model five years ago, I’m excited to be coming back at such an important stage in the precinct’s development.”