Our Team

MCVB Board

MCVB Executive Team

MCVB Board

Christopher Barlow - Chairman

Current

• Chairman, Northern Territory Airports (Darwin and Alice Springs)
• Chairman, Remuneration Committee, MCVB
• Chartered Engineer
• Member, Institute of Civil Engineers
• Non-Executive Director, Asciano Group.

Past

• CEO and Managing Director, Australian Pacific Airports Corporation (operators of Melbourne and Launceston Airports)
• Developmental Director, BAA plc (UK).

Leigh Harry – Deputy Chairman

Current

• Chief Executive, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Member Audit & Finance Committee and Risk Commitee, MCVB
• President, International Congress & Convention Association
• President, Joint Meetings Industry Council.

Past

• Chairman, Business Events Council of Australia
• National President Meetings & Events Association Australia
• Chairman, Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council.

Dr Kathy Alexander - Director

Current

• Chief Executive Officer, City of Melbourne

Past

• Organisational Consultant in Corporate and Public Sectors
• CEO, Women’s and Children’s Health (Royal Children’s Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital)
• Has been a member of a number of Boards, mainly in health and human service areas
• South Australian Telstra Businesswoman of the Year.

Kate Brennan - Director

Current

• Chief Executive Officer, Federation Square
• Member, Executive Board, Committee for Melbourne
• Member, Australia Day Committee (Victoria).

Past

• CEO, Adelaide Festival Centre Trust
• Chairperson, Capital City Forum
• Board membership of numerous arts organisations and tourism bodies in Victoria and South Australia, as well as national and international roles.

David Courtney - Director

Current

• Chief Executive Officer, Crown Melbourne
• Director, Crown Melbourne Limited
• Director, Burswood Limited.

Past

• Chief Executive Officer, Burswood Limited
• Partner, Ernst & Young.

John Davies - Director

Current

• Partner, Ernst & Young
• Audit & Finance Committee Chairman, MCVB
• Remuneration Committee Chairman, MCVB
• Risk Committee Chairman, MCVB
• Oceania Leader, Ernst & Young Consumer Products Group
• Specialist knowledge in Major Events and Venues industry
• Expertise in Risk Management.

Julian Clark - Director

Current

• CEO, The Lancemore Group (Lancemore Hill at Macedon Ranges, Lindenderry at Red Hill, Lindenwarrah at Milawa)
• Chair, Hotel Motel and Accommodation Association (HMAA)
• President, International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) – Australian Chapter
• Marketing sub-committee, Melbourne Opera
• Member, CEDA CEO Roundtable.

Past

• Strategy Manager, Royal & Sun Alliance
• Strategic Alignment Manager, Westpac.

Ken Ryan

Current

• Regional General Manager Victoria and Southern Australia, Qantas Airways Ltd.
• Member, Australian Grand Prix Board.

Past

• Has held a number of senior management positions with Qantas for 15 years including Group General Manager Marketing, Head of Corporate Development and Chief Executive’s Representative, Asia.

Darryl L Washington

Current

• General Manager - Accommodation Division, Australian Hotels Association (Vic)
• Director, United Inn-Keeper Association Ltd
• Director, Central City Consultants.

Past

• State and National President, AHA
• Managing Director, United Innkeeper Hotels.

Christopher B Woodruff

Current

• Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Airport.

Past

• Director, Perth Airport
• Director, Darwin Airport
• CEO, Budapest Airport
• Other Director positions at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

MCVB Executive Team

Sandra Chipchase – Chief Executive Officer

Current

• Member, Federal Government’s Brand Australia Advisory Board
• Member, Enterprise Melbourne Advisory Board
• Member, Business Events Council of Australia (BECA)
• Member, Federal Government’s Business Events Strategy Implementation Group.

Past

• President, Australian Association of Convention Bureaux (AACB)
• Member, Tourism and Transport Forum Advisory Board
• Executive Director, Australia Pavilion, World EXPO 2000
• Executive Director, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
• President, Best Cities Global Alliance
• Senior roles with Australian Tourist Commission in Frankfurt, Chicago and New York.

Angela Uhlig – Acting Director, Marketing + Communications

Carla Chinni – Director, Business Development

Keith Herdman – General Manager, Corporate Services

Edwina San – Director, International Incentives

Tim Sullivan – GM, Convention Sales + Government Partnerships