Our Staff

ROB HARRIS BA, DipMktg, DipTeach, MBus
Director
Rob is a Senior Lecturer at UTS and is Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management. Rob has been actively involved in event management training, education and curriculum development for over 10 years. Rob has also worked extensively with a range of organisations, including Tourism NSW, Arts ACT, MIAA, AFTA and Sydney Olympic Park Authority as a consultant and industry advisor. Rob was a foundation director of the Festivals and Events Association of Australia and was the instigator of the established Event Education and Research Network Australia. He is co-author of the popular text Festivals and Event Management which is now in its fourth edition. Rob is the co-coordinator of the Master of Management (Event Management) program at UTS.

JOHN ALLEN AM, BA, PostGradDiploma Arts
Foundation Director (Education and Training)
John was the foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management and is a Lecturer in the Master program in event management at UTS. John has over 30 years experience in the field of event management during which time he has been involved in the development and delivery of well over 1000, mainly public events. In 2007 he received an order of Australian for his contribution to the Australian events industry. Prior to working at UTS, John was employed as Special Events Manager for Tourism NSW and Special Events Manager for the Darling Harbour Authority. John is the patron of the Festival and Events Association of Australia and co-author of Festivals and Event Management.

WENDY SYMONDS BSc Agr, MSc Agr, MM (Event Management)
Administrator
Wendy is the ACEM Administrator and part-time lecturer in the School of Leisure Sport and Tourism. She has over 10 years experience in the area of event management covering corporate (conferences and exhibitions), private (cast functions for Superman Returns) and public events (2002 Sydney Gay Games, 2008 Chinese New Year Parade, 2008 Lismore Lantern Parade). Immediately prior to joining UTS she started a catering and wine company, which is still cooking up a storm but she is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the company as there are not enough hours in the day! Before this she was a Senior Policy Officer for the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change working in the areas of contaminated sites, environmental health and Sydney’s second airport. In her current role she is combining two of her loves, events and the environment (the third being her family of course) contributing to raising awareness and developing strategies to help walk a little lighter on this earth.

FLAVIA FONTES BA, MM (Event Management)
Project Officer
Flavia is a recent graduate of UTS having travelled from Brazil to complete her Masters in Event Management. She brings with her a number of years experience in corporate events in both Brazil and Argentina. She has also been involved in many events in Australia (corporate and public) including, the 2005 International Event Management Research Conference, 2008 World Youth Day, 2008 Lismore Lantern Parade and the Starlight Cinema (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).

ALISON BURKHARDT BA, Grad Dip Lib Sci.
Librarian - On-line Resources
Alison has been a librarian for over 20 years, including 11 years in the Kuring-gai Campus Library of the University of Technology, Sydney, liaising with staff and students of the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism. She has been involved in the publication of subject bibliographies in the areas of Event Management and the Olympic Games. Her current involvement with ACEM is in the development of a web page of links to electronic resources related to the organisation and management of events.

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Research Associates

Currently being updated

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Centre Associates

TRICIA COONEY
Founder, Circus Solarus
Tricia is a founding member of CIRCUS SOLARUS, street theatre/ theatre of celebration troupe. For the past 19 years they have specialised in large sculptural costume-based characters, giant puppets and working with local communities to create parade images and performances, as well as giving workshops in masks, banners, costumes and stilts. She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to look at the carnival tradition, float and costume design in Italy, France and England. An outcome of the 2001 Fellowship tour has been conference and design seminars, “ The Art of Celebration: Reinvigorating Local Festivals and Parade Design Seminars held in Parramatta and Canberra in 2003 and Gosford / Hawkesbury2004, Baulkham Hills 2005 and Gladstone Queensland 2006. She has served on the boards of Crafts Council of NSW (3 years) and Community Cultural Development NSW (5 years) as well as conference presentations in 3 states and occasional lecturing and workshops at UWS Theatre, Theory and Practice and UTS for Dept of Pop Ed (Rick Flowers).

DAVID GRANT
Managing Director, David Grant Special Events
David established David Grant Special Events in 1987. Some 3000 events later, David is recognised as a leader in his field and a pioneer in the field of corporate events. David’s creativity and professionalism has won the MIAA’s Australian Special Event Organiser of the Year award 10 times and resulted in his induction into MIAA’s prestigious Hall of Fame. Having worked on virtually every style of event and on every scale, David has a profound experience in event creation, production and management. David regularly presents lectures at UTS.

WARWICK HAMILTON
Managing Director, Events Unlimited International
Warwick Hamilton is the Managing Director of Events Unlimited International, a multi-award winning special events company based in Sydney, Australia. Warwick has coordinated and managed events in Australia and worldwide including; black tie dinners, outdoor music events, receptions, gala nights, exhibitions, conferences and product launches. He has served on the boards of the Canberra Visitor and Convention Bureau and the Meetings Industry Association of Australia. He is also currently a lecturer in Event Management at the University of Technology,Sydney and in the New South Wales Technical and Further Education system.

MICHAEL JACOBSEN B.Bus
Executive Chairman, Michael Jacobsen Group
Michael’s academic and professional experience commenced in the financial markets where he worked in stockbroking and finance. He holds a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney with majors in Banking & International Business. He is the Executive Chairman of the Micahel Jacobsen Group including Jacobsen Entertainment Group, Dirty Dancing Asia Pacific and Jacobsen Venue Management. He is also the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arena Management (operator of the Sydney Entertainment Centre and the Capitol Theatre) and a Board member of Vector Arena (Auckland Entertainment Centre) which the Jacobsen Family also developed. Michael was Co-Producer and Marketing Director of Dirty Dancing. He is also a Co-Producer of the International productions of Dirty Dancing. Most recently, Michael also Co-Produced Fame the Musical and has been instrumental in the Production of Shout the Musical, Delaguarda , Man From Snowy River, Long Way to The Top as well as recent tours by Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper.

GLEN LEHMAN
Chief Executive, CSEP Lehman and Associates
Glen Lehman is the dynamic force behind one of Australia’s leading special event companies, Lehman and Associates. A skilled business communicator, Glen is a key figure in the special events profession in Australia, a founding member and former president of ISES (International Special Events Society) Australia. Glen has over three decades of experience in the events industry. Over this time, Glen has worked internationally and with most of Australia’s leading companies and organisations helping them to produce functions, conferences and launches. Glen is one of only five Australians qualified as a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) – an internationally recognised qualification issued by the George Washington University. Glen regularly presents lectures at UTS.

ANDREW TATRAI
Director, Australian Concert and Enteretainment Services
Andrew has over 25 years of experience in event operational management and service supply, including for high risk events. Andrew is certified Practicing Risk Manager [CPRM]; Post-graduate specialist qualifications in risk management. Professional assessment and endorsement as a Certified Practicing Risk Manager via Risk Management Institution of Australasia. Sound achievements and significant experience in application of Australian Standard 4360 Risk Management including organisational change management to diverse client organisations including for Confederation of Australian Motorsport [CAMS]; XYZ Entertainment [Foxtel]; Jack Morton Worldwide [Australia]; George P. Johnson [Australia]; Sydney Opera House. Registered Workplace Assessor and Trainer, Accredited NSW WorkCover Safety Risk trainer, Director of Registered Training Organisation 1999-2004 including lead trainer 2002-2004.

ANDREW WALSH AM
Director, Accolade Event Management
Andrew Walsh is one of the most experienced and respected performing arts professionals in the world. In an extensive career that commenced in Melbourne in the late 1970's Andrew has been continuously employed in the arts he has worked for major performing arts companies, toured with international stars and directed hundreds of productions and events. He was the technical director for Australian Pavilions at three world expos, has directed Sydney 's Australia Day Spectacular for the past fifteen years. He directed the London Millennium Celebrations and in 2001 was Creative Director of the widely acclaimed Centennial Ceremony for Australia 's Centenary of Federation for which he was awarded the Centenary Medal. In 2003 Andrew was Director of Ceremonies for Rugby World Cup 2003 and conceived and directed the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and pre-match anthem segments. He was the Executive Producer of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Most recently he was Executive Producer and Creative Director of the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006

DANNY YEZERSKI
Special Event Producer, TP Events Pty Ltd
Danny is one of Australia’s leading special event producers. In 1987 he founded TP Events specialising in the design and production of corporate and community events. With university degrees in arts, science, computer information systems, accounting, audio engineering, diplomas in event management, meeting industry management, lighting design, artist management and advanced OH&S, Danny is well educated in the various disciplines that assist in producing special events. Danny worked with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh on several of their Australian productions, opening night parties, media events and launches. He has worked across Australia and South East Asia on a number of International theatre projects including Cats, Miss Saigon, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Five Guys named Mo, Phantom of The Opera, and Les Miserables. When Crown Casino, Sydney Harbour Casino and Star City were opened, Danny produced opening events for Ric Birch, delivering creative concepts and overseeing all aspects of the production. Danny has worked from 1996-1999 on the Sydney City’s New Years Eve Harbour Spectaculars. He helped create the first and famous Sydney Harbour Bridge smile and fireworks display.

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Advisory Board Committee

Chair

Jon Hutchison AM, Chief Executive Officer, Business Events Sydney

Advisory Board Committee Members

Johnny Allen AM, Foundation Director, Australian Centre for Event Management, UTS
Rodney Cox, Director of Exhibitions, Exhibitions and Trade Fairs Pty Ltd
Anthony Duffy, Managing Director, Venue Industry Professionals
Meg Fisher, President, International Special Events Society, Australia
David Grant, Managing Director, David Grant Special Events
Prof. Roy Green, Dean, Faculty of Business, UTS
Rob Harris, Director, Australian Centre for Event Management, UTS (ex officio)
Assoc. Prof. Bruce Hayllar, Head of School, School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism, UTS
Michael Jacobsen , Executive Chairman, Michael Jacobsen Group
Prof. Leo Jago, Director, Centre for Tourism and Services Research, Victoria University
Glen Lehman, Chief Executive, CSEP Lehman and Associates
Ian McDonnell, Senior Lecturer, School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism, UTS
John Rose, Consultant
John Scott, Director, Strategic Projects Division, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
Kevin Simmonds, Event Development Manager, Sport and Strategic Events, Events NSW
Paul Sproule, Director, Events Tasmania
Sharon Thomas, General Manager, Peats Ridge Festival
John Trevillian AM, Deputy Director-General, Office of Protocol and Special Events, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet