One of Western Australia’s leading media and communications professionals, Graham Mason, has been appointed to the newly created role of Head of Media, Communications and Government Relations at Optus Stadium.

In this role, Mason will help build and maintain the reputation of Optus Stadium and its Operator, VenuesLive WA, leading the day-to-day management of key media and government relationships.

Mason boasts an outstanding CV covering more than 20 years media and government experience, including significant positions in the West Australian media industry across Seven West and 6PR. He also spent a number of years as a senior member of the media team within the former State Government and joins Optus Stadium most recently from NBN Co.

“We are delighted that Graham will be joining the Optus Stadium and VenuesLive WA team,” said Mike McKenna, Optus Stadium CEO. “He has an outstanding CV with a background and skillset that will add significant value to our talented team. With over one million fans having already attended events during the first six months of operations, the second half of the year is proving equally successful. 2019 is just around the corner and it’s going to be another exciting year for the stadium with a fantastic calendar of world-class events already secured. It is certainly an exciting time to join the team and we are looking forward to Graham commencing in mid-August.”

“In a very short time, Optus Stadium has become an iconic landmark in Western Australia,” Mason said. “Becoming part of the team that is managing this spectacular stadium is a privilege and I already look forward an exciting year ahead of world class events and showcasing Western Australia to the world via this magnificent venue.”

VenuesLive WA was appointed by the State Government as Operator of Optus Stadium in June 2016. The team boasts over 80 permanent staff with a further 2,500 casual staff who support event day operations.

Last week at this time, I was on my way home from VenueConnect in Toronto and was feeling so happy with the tremendous support you gave your Foundation during the conference.

The Foundation Golf Tournament started the week off on Sunday, followed by the Foundation Silent Auction at the Trade Show where bidders, both online and live, vied for some seriously cool items which were donated by our members. Tuesday evening, the 30|Under30|Class of 2018 were honored with a reception and received recognition for their achievements.  If you attended the Diversity om Leadership reception on Wednesday, then you know about the electric atmosphere that just exploded as person after person yelled out pledges to support the Foundation’s Dollars for Diversity campaign. It was crazy unbelievable!! We raised $40,000!  Even more was raised at the end of conference party in an effort to see IAVM President & CEO Brad Mayne, CVE, and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors perform a song and dance.  By the end of the conference, you had raised over $130,000 for Your Foundation, Your Future!

The entire week was alive with positivity and excitement about the future of IAVM, the Foundation and its programs!  As we move past VenueConnect, my vision for the coming year is one of continued momentum for the Foundation.  Now, more than ever, it’s important for us all to support Your Foundation and Your Future by contributing to the Foundation Annual Giving Campaign.  I see the Foundation moving into the future with the ability to assist even more members with scholarships and internships, learning and certification opportunities, up to date research and much, much more. 

Won’t you help us keep up the momentum for Your Foundation, for Your Future and the for the future of members just like you by contributing today?

Robyn Williams, CVE

Chair of the Board of Trustees

IAVM Foundation

Our time in Toronto was educational, full of reconnecting and making new connections, and was a resounding success for your Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

Fundraising at VenueConnect 2018 totals:

Silent Auction –                     $46,000

Golf Tournament –               $38,000

Diversity Reception –           $40,000

End of Conference Party – $10,000

Total raised @VC 18            $134,000

Other Campaign Efforts:

100 +Women Campaign – Up to $10,922

Joseph A Floreano Scholarship & Internship Program – $13,107

Total for raised for campaigns and at VC18 = $158,029

Going Forward:

Coming off of a fantastic VenueConnect 2018, the Foundation will continue to serve it’s members through the following initiatives:

• Build an Amazing Future Annual fundraising Campaign
• Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship & Internship Program
• 100+Women Campaign
• Diversity Initiative
• Certification Programs

When thinking of your Foundation, we sincerely hope you will consider helping us provide opportunities to your colleagues in the venue management industry by investing in YOUR Foundation.  Perhaps you have received an opportunity in the past that you want to pay forward to another industry professional.  Any amount is appreciated and contributes to the future of our industry! 

Onward and upward as the Foundation now moves with purpose toward VenueConnect 2019 in Chicago!

The International Association of Venue Managers’ 2018 Venue Industry Award winners were presented in Toronto, ON, Canada, on July 25, at the 93^rd annual VenueConnect Conference and Trade Show. Each year, IAVM recognizes several venues and individuals who have demonstrated leadership and innovation within the industry.

Venue Excellence Awards (VEA)

The Venue Excellence Awards recognize five IAVM venues, across all sectors within membership, which demonstrate excellence in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Award applicants must demonstrate distinction in the management and operations of a public assembly venue including: operational excellence, safety and security, team building/professional development, and service to the community. A committee of IAVM members chooses the finalists, and winners are approved by the IAVM Board of Directors.

The 2018 Venue Excellence Award Winners

BOK Center – Tulsa, OK

Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts – Orlando, FL

INTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, KS

Minneapolis Convention Center – Minneapolis, MN

Shaw Conference Center – Edmonton, AB, Canada

Education & Service Award

IAVM also announced the 2018 winners for the Education & Service Award. This prestigious award recognizes member involvement through community outreach, educational opportunities, mentorship, and internships that demonstrate excellence within our industry, as well as giving back to the community. This award is open to university staff, professional members, faculty, allied companies and individuals, as well as retired members.

The 2018 Education & Service Award Winner

Sporty Jeralds, CVE – University of South Carolina

Des Moines Performing Arts – Des Moines, IA

IAVM congratulates each of the 2018 award recipients for outstanding community outreach and demonstrated leadership within the industry.

It was a loose and lively crowd that filled the room as Tim Arnold presented an Executive Keynote on The Power of Healthy Tension — Overcome Chronic Issues and Conflicting Values. By the end of the powerful presentation, it was an even looser and happier crowd that drifted out of the room ready to take some new principles back to their home venues and businesses.

By nature, tension tends to be a negative word.

“Tension is not a positive word,” Arnold said. “If at home we were eating dinner and it got tense, we wanted to move away from there.”

In other words, avoidance, which is also not a good thing.

Arnold gave the audience nuggets on how to make tension an actually good thing, a positive thing.

“We will embrace good tension in this discussion,” Arnold said as he warmed up the crowd. “Tensions can drive us crazy or it can be something we can leverage and lean into to our advantage.”

Arnold cited four key steps to healthy tension: identify your crux tension (seeing is relieving); mind your bias (embrace your opposite); learn the language (there is wisdom in resistance); and make informed decisions (go slow to go fast).

“Tension is just part of life,” Arnold said. “I worked for the United Nations for three years and it was clear when everyone was in the room to meet there was so much division. We wanted agreement on who’s producing, etc. You would have countries who said we need decentralized freedom. As a group we had to accept the fact it was not going away. But there is something innate in us that we want solutions. Tension is not always to solve but to manage it well and make it healthy.”

Arnold used an example of when his wife was six months into her pregnancy of how the couple sought advice from those with children on how to raise the new child. Feedback came from having structure to having flexibility.

“It went from encouraging to discouraging,” Arnold said. “Here we were told effective parenting was either structure or flexibility. Oh my gosh! What do you choose? We were done with reading books and getting feedback.”

Arnold noted that there are at least 25 tensions that leaders manage. One such example is a meeting room of staff could be settled by diverse individuals or a unified team. Managing those tensions and get everyone onto the same page without an either/or attitude is the end goal.