Celebrities, politicians, industry heavyweights attend VECCI Autumn Ball

Melbourne’s real influencers — those who wield political and financial power, not the Instagram kind — stepped out for the inaugural VECCI Melbourne Autumn Ball. Here’s who was rubbing shoulders with who.

Melbourne’s most influential stepped out for the inaugural VECCI Melbourne Autumn Ball for a night of power and glamour.

And when we mean influence, we really mean it, as opposed to social media influencers we might normally see coveting a media wall.

Heavy hitters, captains of industry, business visionaries and decisions makers were out in full force. Not to mention politicians, well mostly of the Labor variety, with the Liberals far too busy fighting among themselves, and Sam Groth, normally one never to miss a party, was a late absentee for perhaps obvious reasons.

Premier Jacinta Allan hobnobbed with Eddie and Carla McGuire, NBA’s Larry Kestelman was in good company sitting alongside artist Vincent Fantauzzo and Herald Sun editor Sam Weir. Essendon tragics, former governor Linda Dessau and her husband Anthony Howard even forwent Thursday night’s game, and were deep in conversation with the likes of AUS GP boss Martin Pakula and Ann Peacock as the night ticked well past midnight.

Dr Andrew Kroger and Ann Peacock. Picture: David Crosling

Carla and Eddie McGuire. Picture: David Crosling

Lana Wilkinson. Picture: David Crosling

Arron and Stephanie Wood. Picture: David Crosling

Kate Reid. Picture: David Crosling

Eric Bana. Picture: David Crosling

Outgoing VECCI chief Paul Guerra was in his element wearing a white tuxedo jacket. The boss of Victoria’s key business lobby group insisted the event, a take on Canberra’s mid-winterball, was not his swan song as he prepares to step into the role at the end of the AFL season as Melbourne Football Club CEO.

But what a triumph, for a city that lives off our major events, this may well become a must on the social calendar often bereft around this time of the year for some glamour ... well, other than footy of course. From the trays of caviar bumps, to metre long blue-fin tuna sashimi steaks on offer as guests mingled, heavy hitters eased into their suits as they swilled G.H. Mumm champagne.

And then came Hollywood’s Eric Bana who opened proceedings stressing the importance of small business with a long list of his own jobs, from working at his mum’s hairdressing salon on High St Malvern from the age of 5 — “We lived out the back and my job was to keep an eye on the ladies under the hair dryer and let mum know if anyone had caught on fire,” — to collecting trolleys in the Kmart carpark at Airport West and a brief stint at a soft serve ice-cream shop at Westfield.

“This is not just an event. It’s a beacon. A gathering of visionaries, decision makers and change makers shaping the future of Victoria. And recognise the brilliance that fuels this great state,” Bana said.

Kylie Rogers and Edwina Speakman. Picture: David Crosling

Deputy Victorian Premier Ben Carroll. Picture: David Crosling

Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Julia Swanson, Former Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott, Visit Victoria Chief Marketing Officer Shae Keenan. Picture: David Crosling

Alex Fevola’s and sister Toni Keegan. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian MP Danny Pearson and wife Nicole Marshall. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian Chamber Chief of Staff Chanelle Pearson and Board Member Jacqui Savage. Picture: David Crosling

Later MP Jacinta Allan gave the keynote speech, talking up the great state, and amusingly saying we are not like “North Korea” to plenty of laughs and well wishes. Melbourne’s own Broadway and West End star Josh Piterman gave a rousing performance, singing Phantom’s Music of the Night with many swooning — both men and women — as they dined on Portoro Beef Eye Fillet, with Wild Mushroom Galette.

Elsewhere Avalon CEO and Linfox fixer Ari Suss was pressing the flesh.

MRC chair John Kanga and his glamorous wife Stephanie, who is celebrating her 50th birthday, chatted with VRC’s Neil Wilson and Kylie Rogers, the racing industry keep it together!

Live Nation’s Alex Klos, Crown’s David Tsai, designer Lana Wilkinson and creative king maker Chris Kontos, Lune’s Kate Reid, president of the NGV trustees Janet Whiting, Runway Room’s Alex Fevola, Marvel Stadium general manager Scott Fitzgerald and rumoured incoming VECCI boss and former Lord Mayor hopeful Arron Wood, all came under the canopy of stars for what will no doubt be remembered as an unforgettable night of connection and celebration.

Originally published as Celebrities, politicians, industry heavyweights attend VECCI Autumn Ball