Venue Management Association releases Board election results

The Venue Management Association (VMA) has announced the results of its 2019 Board Election to members and the industry.

Having received nominations from eighth venue industry professionals, and seeing just close to 40% of the VMA membership casting their vote, the Association welcomes three new Directors to the Board and one returning Director.

The new Directors, who will commence their three year term on 26th May 2019 at the VMA’s AGM, are:

Brendan Hines
General Manager of Spark Arena, New Zealand’s largest and busiest Indoor Arena, Hines has been involved in the events and venues industry for close to 25 years.

An accountant holding a BComm in Accounting and Economics and as a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), he has been a member of the VMA since 2005, Hines has previously served on the 2018 VMA Congress Committee and attended the IAVM Executive Symposium at Cornell University.

Paul Sergeant
As the current Director of Special Projects with AEG Odgen, Sergeant is a 38-year veteran in the venue industry having held numerous senior roles in both the UK and Australia including CEO roles with Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

In 2015, Sergeant became an instructor at the Venue Management School, sat on the Congress Organising Committee for the 2019 Congress and has been a member of the Venue Management Association since 2011.

Natalie Valentine
In her current role, as Deputy (and currently acting) Chief Executive at the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, Valentine is responsible for overseeing the strategic and business operations of the Trust. Previously she held roles as Precinct and Australian Open Manager at Melbourne & Olympic Parks and working with the Victorian Government to establish the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, for the purpose of operating and managing GMHBA Stadium.

Valentine brings with her over 19 years’ experience in the sports industry, and over half of that time managing key sports venues, working on several significant stadium redevelopments, and leading the procurement and management of national and international events.

She has been a member of the Venue Management Association since 2014.
Returning for his second term on the Board, the welcome backs

Leighton Wood
As Chief Operating Officer at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for over eight years, Wood has been a member of the Venue Management Association since 2014.

As a VMA Director for the past three years, Wood is currently Chair of the Professional Development Committee and has lectured at the VMA Leadership Institute.

Commenting on the elections, VMA President Steve Harper stated “on behalf of the members I take this opportunity to welcome our newly elected Directors onto the Board and note that the engagement of our members around this election was extremely pleasing with close to 40% voting.

“At the upcoming AGM on 26th May I will take pleasure in introducing our new Directors and also recognising and acknowledging the outgoing Directors, Helen Glengarry, John Glenn and Jason Hill, who all generously donated their time, passion and commitment to the VMA over their terms.”