Big hitters at helm of Major Events Gold Coast
The board of Major Events Gold Coast has been announced — and it includes some of the city’s biggest names
Council
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GOLD Coast Titans director Darryl Kelly will head up a new Glitter Strip events entity featuring some big names in a radical merger of three of the city’s longstanding marketing bodies.
Major Events Gold Coast will become fully operational in mid-2020 with about $13 million to work with each year, Mayor Tom Tate and City of Gold Coast CEO Dale Dickson revealed on Monday.
The fusion of Surfers Paradise Alliance, Broadbeach Alliance and Connecting Southern Gold Coast has set itself the lofty goal of booking out each and every available weekend with a nationally or internationally broadcast event — think the Gold Coast Marathon, Magic Millions and Gold Coast 600.
Mr Kelly, former chair of Broadbeach Alliance, will head the nine member board of Major Events, which is comprised of an array of businesspeople from various backgrounds.
Members of the board include former GOLDOC CEO Mark Peters, the incoming CEO of Village Roadshow Clark Kirby, group executive operations at Star Entertainment Group Geoff Hogg and the regional general manager at Accor Hotels Michael Coe.
Other members include the director of Cross Promotions International Jackie Cross, CEO and director of Burleigh Brewing Co Peta Fielding, Former legal practitioner at Minter Ellison
Jessica Norris and Chair of Connecting Southern Gold Coast Greg Jenke.
The first ever board meeting was due to go ahead this afternoon.
Mr Kelly was appointed chair on the back of his work with Broadbeach Alliance and its success developing events including Blues on Broadbeach and the flourishing Groundwater Country Music Festival.
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He said Major Events will focus on attracting new and major events “across the city”.
“Well, the first thing you notice when you have a look at the program is there’s some conflict there. That’s the first item to attend to,” he said.
“There’s a concentration of some events, particularly around this time of year. We’ve had VIVA recently, Groundwater this weekend, there was a food and wine festival at Sanctuary Cove this weekend.
“I think one organisation looking over the whole city has the potential to achieve more than the individuals.
Mr Kelly said shuffling events around would ultimately “give an overall economic benefit to the city”, but he added “we do have to increase the number of events as well”.
Cr Tate said residents could expect the development of a comprehensive and coordinated events calendar.
He was unable to detail savings for ratepayers previously mentioned, but said Major Events represents “value for money” when compared to the three existing bodies.
It’s understood several jobs will be lost in the organisational shake-up.
The board will meet once a month and appointments will last two years for members and three years for the chairman.
Mr Dickson said the chair and board will be paid a “modest stipend for their time”.
Major Events Gold Coast Pty Ltd
- Darryl Kelly (Chair)
Chair of Broadbeach Alliance Ltd
2009 NRL Volunteer of the Year
Director Gold Coast Titans
- Mark Peters
Former GOLDOC CEO
Former Executive Director – Australian Sports Commission
Former Australian baseball player (Captain) and sports administrator
Former President – Australian Baseball Federation
- Clark Kirby
Incoming CEO of Village Roadshow Ltd
CEO, Warner Village Theme Parks Ltd
Director of Gold Coast Tourism Corporation Ltd
- Geoff Hogg
Group Executive Operations at Star Entertainment Group Ltd
Senior Management roles at SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Director of National Retail Association
Director of Broadbeach Alliance Ltd
Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce (Queensland)
- Michael Coe
Regional General Manager at Accor Hotels
Director of Surfers Paradise Alliance Ltd
Former Director of Hotel Motel & Accommodation Association Inc.
Former Director of Tourism Tropical North Queensland Ltd
- Jackie Cross
Director, Cross Promotions International
Runs a high-profile Australian entertainment act at MGM Reports, Las Vegas
More than 20 years’ experience in marketing, major events, entertainment and festivals
- Peta Fielding
CEO & Director of Burleigh Brewing Co
Director of Gold Coast Tourism Corporation Ltd
Former GOLDOC board member
·Director of Bleached Arts Ltd
- Jessica Norris
Former Legal Practitioner at Minter Ellison
Former Manager (Legal) for GOLDOC
Former legal counsel for Invictus Games Sydney 2018
Winner – In House Lawyer of the Year (2016 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards)
- Greg Jenke
Chair Connecting Southern Gold Coast
CEO of John Flynn Private Hospital
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