VenuesWest announces key appointment to operations

VenuesWest has appointed Steve Harper as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Harper, a Certified Facility Executive (CFE) has been with VenuesWest for more than four years serving as the Director of Venue Operations where he was in charge of managing events ranging from large scale music festivals to International Sporting Championships while overseeing the day-to-day running of six geographical spread venues.

Announcing the appointment, VenuesWest Chairman Graham Partridge stated “I am highly confident that Mr Harper will be able to fulfil his duties as COO to a high standard and continue to deliver high quality venue experiences for the millions of patrons who visit our venues each year, a number which has continually increased since Mr Harper began at VenuesWest.

“Since Mr Harper began in 2010, VenuesWest has added four more self-managed venues to its portfolio and celebrated a record 2.4 million people visiting the six self-managed venues during the 2013/14 financial year, our best year yet.

“I believe Mr Harper’s success lies in him accomplishing challenging objectives through strategic planning and then delivering record results.

“Mr Harper not only brings with him extensive knowledge of VenuesWest and valuable local contacts he also brings with him a wealth of international experience.

Prior to his role as Director of Venue Operations, Harper was both Assistant Director and Acting Director for the City of Norfolk’s Department of Cultural Facilities in Virginia, USA where he managed all facets of seven public venues, which included five theatres, a 13,000-seat Arena and a 15,000-seat baseball stadium as well as the multi-million dollar capital expenditure program.

Preceding this he spent 10 years in Seattle, Washington managing seven high-profile recreation, sporting and entertainment facilities including the 75,000 seat Husky Stadium, which hosted the Washington Huskies Football team and for three seasons the National Football League's (NFL)Seattle Seahawks.

In honour of Harper’s unique abilities and professionalism in his position at the Department of Cultural Facilities in Virginia he was awarded with a certificate of appreciation from President George W. Bush.

Commenting on this, Partidge explained “what is a more credible recommendation than from the US President himself?”

Harper earned the Certified Facility Executive (CFE) certification, the highest accolade within Venue Management in 2005. He is also part of the executive Board of the Venue Management Association (VMA) and is a panel member of the annual Helpmann Awards.

Commening on Steve Harper’s new role, Partridge added “in his new role, Mr Harper will be responsible for the Venues Management Directorate, which is accountable for the activation and commercial management of all VenuesWest self-managed facilities.

“He will lead an experienced team to host thousands of events and activities for millions of expected visitors each year, while balancing community expectations, elite requirements and commercial outcomes.

“On behalf of VenuesWest we are excited to welcome Mr Harper to this new role and look forward to seeing what the future holds with Mr Harper at the reigns."

Steve Harper is also a member of the Board of the Venue Management Association.

VenuesWest is Western Australia’s provider of premier sports, recreation and entertainment venues and its portfolio includes the new and world class Perth Arena and the redeveloped nib Stadium. Recently the State Government confirmed that the new Perth Stadium would join the VenuesWest portfolio when completed in 2018.

These are in addition to HBF Stadium, HBF Arena, WA Athletics Stadium, WA Basketball Centre, Midvale Speeddome, Perth Motorplex, Champion Lakes Regatta Centre and the WA Rugby Centre, with the State Netball Centre and the Western Australian Institute of Sports High Performance Service Centre under construction currently. 

10th September 2010 - VENUESWEST NAMES STEVE HARPER AS DIRECTOR VENUE OPERATIONS