Vale: Venue management professional: Warren Buckley

Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to report the death of venue management professional Warren Buckley, the one-time Chair of the Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council, former International Association of Venue Management (IAVM) board member and a regular instructor at the Venue Management School in Australia and the USA.

Starting his career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Warren then worked for Xerox before taking on a sales and marketing role with the planned BC Place Stadium prior to Vancouver’s hosting of World Expo86.

By 1994, he was made President of BC Pavilion Corp., responsible for the operation of British Columbia’s major public facilities - BC Place Stadium, Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, Bridge Film Studios, Robson Square Conference Centre and the Fraser Valley Trade and Exhibition Centre.

Thereafter, Warren was the President and Chief Executive of the privately owned Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore for seven years - during which time the Centre was named Asia’s number one Convention Centre three years in a row.

Returning to Canada, from 2008 to 2012, Warren oversaw both the expansion of the Vancouver Convention Centre and the extensive refurbishment of BC Place Stadium.

A graduate of the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelors’ degree in Economics, during his career he was actively involved in several industry associations serving as Chair of the Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council, as a Board member of the World Council for Venue Management, Venue Management Association and board member of IAVM. He also served as an instructor at both the Venue Management schools in USA and Australia for several years.

He died on 14th July at the age of 73.

As with everything in life, Warren’s choice of a medically assisted death was made with grace and dignity and allowed him to write the last chapter of his life after a diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia.

“I think I’ve done some good here,” were Warren’s last words.

Profoundly grateful for him, and forever laughing with memories are his wife of 52 years, Rilla Buckley, daughter Tricia and Brock Grey (Lauren & Jordan); son Chris and Brooke Van Hatten (Chloe); sister June Kaan of Winnipeg, numerous adored and adoring nieces and nephews, and members of the Preston family, who embraced him from the time he and Rilla met.

To support research and work on Lewy Body Dementia, the Buckley Family asks you to please consider a donation to Dr Robin Hsiung at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3pm (Pacific Daylight Time) on Saturday 27th August at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Click here to donate to the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health.