By Zan Lewarn
Dean Hassall, CVE, has been named as new International Instructor at IAVM’s Venue Management School.
Hassall, a highly regarded Venue Management Association (Asia and Pacific) Limited school instructor for the 
past 18 years, and a past long-term VMA board member, will bring his wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the U.S. based school and their students.
Both the VMA’s Australian-based VMS and the IAVM’s U.S.-based VMS has maintained a strong, supportive and collaborative relationship over many years. Each year there is a reciprocal exchange of both instructors and students who share knowledge, networks, and experience.
“To be named as the new resident International Instructor by the IAVM reflects Dean’s skills, knowledge, passion and high standing in the venue management industry that has been forged over many years,” said Wayne Middleton, CVE, VMA’s VMS Chair. “This exchange further enhances the longstanding relationship between the IAVM and VMA annual School program and we congratulate Dean on this appointment.”
“I am honoured and delighted to be considered an appropriate addition to their outstanding group of instructors, and to ensure the international flavour and experiences continues to be strongly represented at the IAVM VMS following prior long-term Instructor Craig Lovett,” Hassall said. “I am excited to be given the opportunity, which will undoubtedly continue my own industry professional development interacting with my international peers and the VMS students in Tampa.
“The experience will assist with allowing me to continue to remain up to date with contemporary industry trends which can only benefit our own VMS.”
As an established VMS committee member, Hassall is arguably one of Australia’s most experienced venue managers. As Principal Consultant for Dean Hassall Consulting, he provides advisory services in the areas of event and venue management, facility development, sports administration, and industry business analysis.
Hassall was the IAMV VMS international guest instructor in 2007, completed the IAVM Graduate Institute program in 2014, and was the proud recipient of the VMA Allied Venue Professional of the Year in 2011.
Zan Lewarn is Education Manager for Venue Management Association in Carrara, Queensland, Australia.
