How to Run the World's Best Event

By Imago Group - Liz Herbert
Tuesday 7 March, 2006

When it comes to putting on a show that will make millions around the globe gasp in delight, Australian talent is in high demand. During a new seven-day intensive live-in course presented by Sport Knowledge Australia, a group of the leading identities responsible for conducting major events around the world will impart their wisdom.

Sydney - A medley of influential executives, who can between them claim credit for lauded events the calibre of Rugby World Cup, Athens and Sydney Olympics, Formula One, MotoGP, World Masters Games and Commonwealth Games, have been swayed to take on key roles in Sport Knowledge Australia’s (SKA) inaugural Major Event Management Programme taking place at Sydney Olympic Park from 8 June.

Leighton Wood, CEO of SKA, who himself played an integral part in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Melbourne said of his talent line up, “We worked hard to attract people with impeccable track records so that our attendees can learn from the world’s finest exponents of event management over a very intensive seven days."

“Among the presenters are Sandy Hollway, who remains unsurpassed in presenting the ‘best ever’ Olympics, Andrew Walsh, one of the world’s foremost Ceremony Directors – noted for the London Millennium Celebrations and Olympic Ceremonies - and Brian Thorburn, a major commercial strategist in the success of the Rugby World Cup in 03. As well we have Jim Sloman and partners from MI Associates who were the driving force behind the successful bid for London 2012 Olympics.”

Wood added that in keeping with the SKA philosophy, the course would blend academic with insider industry knowledge. Leading the academic aspect of the course is tourism expert, Adjunct Professor Trevor Mules from the University of Canberra and the Gold Coast’s Griffith University, who will offer insight into the economic impact and legacy of events through tourism.

SKA Welcomes New Executive Team Member

Englishman Jeremy Evans, a former stadium manager for Aston Villa Premier League soccer club, and a logistics planner for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, has joined Sport Knowledge Australia (SKA).

Evans holds MBA and Bachelor of Science degrees and has helped deliver a broad range of events including the World Indoor Athletics Championship, the 2004 FA Cup Semi Final and rugby internationals at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Since October last year he has worked in operations, events and project management for Ogden International Facilities Management, the largest private sector facilities management company in Asia and the Pacific Rim.

SKA CEO Leighton Wood said that Evans’ expertise would complement the SKA programme, “Jeremy has a great deal of practical knowledge of planning and development of public and private sector sports, leisure and recreation facilities".

“This makes him well equipped for his role with us which will be to help develop curricula and to deliver courses locally and overseas.”