Recent announcements made by the MCEC and BCEC about changes to senior management opens the door to some interesting changes that will no doubt play out in the coming period.

The appointment of Bob O’Keeffe as Chief Operating Officer of ASM Global APAC means that all their Australian venues will now report to him – this includes BCEC, ICC Sydney, Darwin, Cairns and Christchurch Convention Centres.

With other recent changes in senior management that took place in the Adelaide Convention Centre and the Sydney Showground it should not be lost on anyone that this is very significant point in time for Business Events.

Now overlay the changes in management with the challenges of the last two years.

The industry in 2019 was definitely in need of a shakeup. Innovation, new talent and reinventing the whole experience of business events was very much needed back then. As a result of the pandemic significant change is now being forced on venues, and maybe that’s not a bad thing. Although major challenges are emerging, anyone now taking the reins will have their work cut out for them.

Let’s hope the new leaders can stand up and take a position that not only supports, but more importantly understands the industry and its real needs. With most expos caught in a time warp of 2019 pricing that in one quantum leap increased for 2022/23 is challenging enough, however I keep saying we have some interesting times ahead with the change in Government and the need to repay debt overlayed with continued emerging cost increases such as power will all come into play.

So changing of the guard may present an opportunity but equally the industry needs to reset and get ready.