Cliff Wallace, CVE, just added one more accolade to a career full of them when he was honored with the Venue Management Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2019 Venue Industry Awards recently completed at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Wallace, member of the board of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, was feted at the Asia-Pacific Venue Industry
Congress along with several other honored category recipients.
VMA says its Lifetime Achievement Award “looks to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of an industry stalwart who has made a significant contribution to the Association, the venue management profession and our industry in the Asia Pacific region.”
That person is in full bloom with Cliff Wallace, known to people inside and outside the industry throughout the world as a tireless worker and champion of the public assembly venue industry.
Wallace’s career in the industry spans a remarkable 57 years and indeed covers the globe, something even Wallace said he could not have foreseen happening at one time earlier in his career. Among his professional association credits Wallace served as IAVM (then IAAM) President in 1984-85 while in New Orleans, and is an Honorary President of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI).
Notably in the Asia and Pacific region, Wallace has been an instructor at the VMA Venue Management School (VMS) from 1996 to 2012, has served on the VMA Board from 2001 through 2003, and has often spoken at the annual Congress. He has also contributed significantly to industry initiatives in Asia as well as playing a key role in establishing the VMA’s Affiliation Agreement with the IAVM in 2007.
He has been an enthusiastic member and ambassador for the VMA and VMS in the region and has been instrumental in expanding the reach into Asia by both sending and encouraging many students to attend the VMS, and in the development of the VMA/UFI partnership to deliver the VMS China School.
“Our industry is unique and draws to it incredible individuals who are passionate about what they do,” said VMA President Steve Harper, CVE. “From memorable moments for their patrons to iconic events that form part of our nation’s culture and history, they are a rare breed and we love to celebrate them.”
Other recipients at the VVMA’s Asia-Pacific Venue Industry Congress include:
Venue Professional of the Year Award – Gary Mears CVE – General Manager, The Events Centre – Caloundra
Allied Professional of the Year Award – Paul McCarthy – Director, PBM Safety
Young Achiever of the Year Award – Eray Saban – Stadium Event Manager, Marvel Stadium
