Convention centre chef’s recycling crusade wins accolades

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) executive chef Matthew Arnold is quickly gaining a reputation as the city’s recycling king for his efforts in diverting waste from landfill.

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre winning accolades for recycling

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) executive chef Matthew Arnold is quickly gaining a reputation as the city’s recycling king.

Arnold’s efforts recently helped the centre receive global recognition for its recycling efforts that has seen more than 700,000 glass and plastic containers diverted from landfill to support local charities. BCEC was an innovation award finalist at the recent International Association of Convention Centres (IAPC) conference in Costa Rica for its recycling effort spearheaded by Arnold and his kitchen team. Arnold encouraged staff to participate in Queensland’s Containers for Change Scheme with $54,000 raised to support assisted housing, medical research and a local daytime sanctuary helping those most vulnerable.

BCEC executive chef Matthew Arnold

Arnold, the kitchen team and other departments also were involved in the integration of the scheme into the centre’s waste management practices. That saw 734,874 glass and plastic containers recycled and 80 per cent of food and compostable waste diverted from landfill.

About 34,509kg of organic waste has been converted by BCEC’s onsite dehydrator to 9,456kg high-concentrate fertiliser in the last six months.

Six new waste streams were introduced by separating previously commingled recycling and general waste including beer, soft drink, cans and water bottles, organic food waste, cardboard, soft plastics and wine spirit, juice and milk bottles.

Tatts hire

Tattersall’s Club has scored a bit of a coup, hiring hospitality executive and former chef Darren Morrish to replace Simon Proctor as its new chief executive.

The Townsville Grammar old boy was previously general manager of the prestigious Tokyo America Club in Japan, which boasts a membership base of around 4,000 members and runs operations across two premier locations in the Japanese capital with nine restaurants, multiple bars and extensive recreational facilities.

New boss for Tattersalls Club.

Morrish is relocating to Brisbane with his wife and teenage son in coming months. “I originally trained as a chef and have always been drawn to the high-pressure and fast-paced environments that typify the hospitality industry,” Morrish says.

“I am incredibly excited and appreciative to be joining the team at Tattersall’s Club and am also very happy about returning home to Brisbane.” We hear the club experienced an unprecedented level of interest in the CEO role, with over 120 applications received.

Rocking out

PowerPoint presentations will be dumped for power chords and briefcases dropped for guitar cases when Brisbane’s business elite rock out at Jurassic Jam on Saturday, August 24.

Now in its milestone 10th year, Jurassic Jam is a unique fundraiser that harnesses the power of rock and roll and a good night out to benefit charity. The six bands that will rattle the Triffid’s stage on the night comprise Brisbane’s top business talents, who will ditch their suits and ties to raise money for the AEIOU Foundation in aid of children with autism.

Jurassic Jam’s genesis came from conversations between Triffid figureheads Mary-Jeanne Hutchinson, former Powderfinger bassist and venue director John Collins, and Clayton Utz commercial litigation partner Mark Waller, who doubles as lead singer of participating band The Manilows. Musician and Eagle Street based businessman Joe Gallagher is another corporate high-flyer whose double life as a musician will play out on the Jurassic Jam stage.

“I have been playing in a band called ‘The Planktons’ for the past 10 years which has been a lot of fun,” he says. Performances start at 3pm and run through the night.

John Collins of The Triffid