VMA announces 2019 Congress program details and keynote speakers

The Venue Management Association (VMA) has announced details of the program for the 2019 Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress with Chris Phillips, former Head of the UK's National Counter Terrorism Office, the day one opening Keynote speaker and Peter Williams, founder of Deloitte Digital, to open day two with his insights on Opportunities with Emerging Technology.

Founder of Get Skilled Access, Dylan Alcott OAM will open the 2019 Congress to talk about his ongoing mission for an all-inclusive society, the importance of live music and accessibility for all, and how the corporate world can better engage and support the 4.5 million people in Australia living with disabilities.

Through a unique partnership between VMA, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, Alcott will explain how, through Get Skilled Access, he and his team are changing the way organisations and governments look at disability by seeing the benefit and business opportunity by engaging 20% of Australia’s population who have a disability.

Alcott’s passion is to normalise disability and has pathed the way to a unique and innovative approach that drives organisations to be more inclusive, purposeful, productive and profitable.

With both an impressive sporting pedigree, being a three-time Paralympic gold medallist, seven-time grand slam winner and world number one ranked wheelchair tennis athlete, as well as being a leading disability advocate in Australia, Alcott is using his profile and personality to alter and change the way people with disabilities are perceived in the wider community.

Not only will he be presenting a keynote address on the opening night of the Congress, Alcott will also lead the Venue Accessibility Workshop session, bringing industry professionals together to discuss the challenges venue industry faces and opportunities to create a more inclusive and accessible experience for patrons with disabilities.

Looking forward to his presentation, Alcott explains “it’s my mission to help people understand disability by driving organisations to be more inclusive.

“With my greatest passions being sport and music, it’s a game changer to talk to the leaders of the venue and live industry.

“If we can make live more accessible for all, then we can get more people into venues and the events they love which will contribute to overall success of the industry.”

VMA President, Steve Harper CVE added “we are delighted to be partnering with Live Nation and Ticketmaster to bring such a high profile and passionate advocate in Dylan Alcott to the 2019 Congress. The challenge for the venue industry moving forward is to ensure that we are able to deliver the same great experience each and every time, to every patron that comes through our doors and gates.

“Through Dylan’s keynote address, and our Venue Accessibility Workshop, our Congress delegates are looking forward to the hearing of the great innovations some of our members are implementing in this area and how we can all address these challenges.”

The annual Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress will be held from the 26th to 28th of May 2019 in Melbourne. As the largest gathering of venue industry professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, it brings together more than 450 key decision makers for three days of education, networking and celebration.

Click here to view the event details on the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Main image: Dylan Alcott.