Steve Hevern and Wayne Middleton win VMA Professional of the Year awards

The Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific) [VMA] has presented its annual Professional of the Year awards to Steve Hevern (Active member) and Wayne Middleton (Allied member).

The Awards, which celebrate and acknowledge venue industry professionals for their unsurpassed excellence and service to the industry, was presented at last week's Annual Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress Gala Dinner held in Melbourne.

VMA Vice President Steve Hevern (pictured above right) is currently General Manager of the AEG Ogden managed Qantas Credit Union Arena (the former Sydney Entertainment Centre [SEC]).

Steve’s venue industry career as began in 1990 when he was engaged as the Facility Electrician at the SEC.

Progressing through a range of promotions during 10 years at the SEC, ending as Operations Supervisor, he then spent almost five years at the new Sydney SuperDome (now known as Acer Arena), ending as Operations Manager at the venue before becoming involved with the design and construction of Vector Arena in Auckland.

In late 2005, Steve was seconded by Quay Park Arena Management (QPAM) in the capacity of Deputy Chief Executive and relocated to Auckland where he was exposed to firsthand experience of running a business from all operational aspects.

Steve was engaged by AEG Ogden as their Manager, Technical Operations in early 2008 and was relocated to Beijing, China to take possession of the newly completed Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena (BOBA) to begin proceedings of Practical Completion, staff procurement and operational set up for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Since returning to Australia in late 2008, Steve has undertaken the responsibilities of the Group role with AEG Ogden which entails continuing work on venue designs, protocols and systems with an array of international venue, stadia, theatre and convention centre development projects.

He is a PVMS graduate of the class of 2001.

Wayne Middleton (pictured above left) is a risk management consultant and Principal of Reliance Risk. Reliance helps public venues, events, sports and companies in the entertainment industry to manage risk. He has over 22 years experience in management and operational roles in the venues and events industries and 14 years as a risk management professional.

Wayne was a member of the VMA since the 1990s while working as a Venue Manager for the Australian Sports Commission in Canberra. 

Subsequently he workd on the Sydney and Salt Lake Olympics, and consulting on risk management to the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Doha Asian Games and Maccabiah Games in Israel. 

In recent years he has undertaken numerous risk management consulting projects for clients including Wagga Wagga City Council, Pirtek Stadium, Perth Arena (AEG Ogden), Festival Hall Melbourne, Territory Venues and Events (including Manuka Oval, Canberra Stadium and Stromlo Forest Park) and Sydney’s Centennial Parklands. 

Wayne’s RiskSense Events online risk management software product has been used by approximately 25 clients venues and event operators in Australia, New Zealand and Norway.  The software helps venues to assess risk, profile crowd safety and report incidents.  

He is also a lecturer at the VMA’s annual (Public) Venue Management School and was a Guest Instructor at the US Venue Management School in Oglebay West Virginia in 2013.

He is also a PVMS graduate, class of 1996.

The Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress also saw the induction of 22 new Accredited Venue Managers (AVM):

Aaron Hamilton
Andrew Travis
Brendon Ellmer
Chris Farrell
Damien De Groot
Fran Murtagh
Gavin Taylor
Glen Rainsbury
Glenn Hall
Graeme Kan
Graham Hush
Ian Love
Jarrod Mohr
Jodie Miatke
Joelene Elliott
Katherine Norman
Kevin Flynn
Marc Swan
Mark Owens
Peter Wearne
Phil King
Sarah Smith

Click here for more information on the 2014 Venue Management School (VMS), being held from 23rd to 28th November at the Intercontinental Resort, Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast. 

28th April 2014 - VMA OPENS ENROLMENTS FOR 2014 VENUE MANAGEMENT SCHOOL