Sports Technology

The team that will run the new Perth Stadium and Sports Precinct is fast taking shape, with a number of Australia’s most experienced sports leaders now confirmed in senior executive roles by Stadium operator VenuesLive.

The Perth Stadium team will be led by Chief Executive Mike McKenna, who commenced work in Perth on Monday 28th November. 

McKenna has joined VenuesLive after almost 20 years in senior management roles at Cricket Australia and the Essendon Football Club. He was Executive General Manager Operations at Cricket Australia and played a key role in the stewardship of all Cricket Australia’s marketing and commercial programs for 11 years. 

McKenna was architect of the hugely successful Big Bash League – a benchmark for contemporary sports, media and entertainment in Australia.

Prior to his roles at Cricket Australia, McKenna was General Manager Commercial Operations at Essendon Football Club for seven years from 1998. During a period of significant transformation for Essendon and for AFL, McKenna led the Essendon club’s move to Etihad Stadium.

Commenting on his new role, McKenna explains “I am very excited about the opportunity ahead, helping to deliver one of the world’s great stadiums.

“Working with the WA Government, footy clubs, cricket and other sporting codes, we aim to deliver the best sporting and entertainment experiences for the people of Perth, WA and Australia.

“We have made a number of key appointments to my Perth Stadium management team and I look forward to the journey ahead.”

Perth-based Brad Paatsch – the current General Manager of Strategic Projects at Fremantle Football Club and a man who has worked across AFL, NRL and A-League football – has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at Perth Stadium.

With extensive experience in business negotiation, government liaison, strategic business planning, marketing, and venue design and management, Paatsch joins VenuesLive Management Services as second-in-charge to McKenna.

Paatsch will transition from his role at Fremantle Dockers to VenuesLive over the next three months.

Paatsch has been General Manager of Strategic Projects with the Fremantle Dockers since 2012, delivering the club’s world-class $109 million elite training and administration facility at Cockburn Central and driving the successful bid of Fremantle’s national women’s team. He has also been the club’s key representative for the development, design and commercial discussions at Perth Stadium.

A former consultant with Stratcorp and Coffey Commercial Advsitory, Paatsch explains “I am very excited about continuing and expanding my involvement in what will be one of the best stadiums in the world and to be working with all major stakeholders to deliver world-class sport and entertainment events at Perth Stadium.”

Respected Australian events manager Chris Loftus-Hills has joined the VenuesLive team after 11 seasons delivering major cricket events across the country, 

Loftus-Hills has been appointed General Manager Events & Operations at Perth Stadium and will take up his position on Monday 16th January.

Born in Kalgoorlie, Loftus-Hills is well known for his role as Head of Events & Match Operations at Cricket Australia where he has worked since 2005.

Looking forward to being part of the VenuesLive team,  Loftus-Hills adds “I am excited to be joining Mike McKenna and the team that will bring to life the new Perth Stadium and deliver world-class sport and entertainment events.

“I am very much looking forward to working with all the major sporting codes and other hirers to deliver a premium fan experience in a world-class facility that the people of Western Australia are going to be immensely proud of.”

A number of other key senior appointments have been made at Perth Stadium by VenuesLive.

Robert Affleck, formerly Assistant Project Director for Perth Stadium with Western Australian Government agency VenuesWest, has taken up the role of General Manager Corporate Services.

Rebecca Barry has been appointed Head of Human Resources.

Barry joins VenuesLive from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW where she held the position of General Manager, Human Resources for more than 10 years.

Dorian Hughes has joined VenuesLive as Operations Manager. His most recent role was Transition Manager for VenuesWest, responsible for managing the transition of Perth Stadium from construction to operation.

Rebecca Purcell has taken up the role of Events Manager after a 10-year career in event operations at Sydney’s Olympic stadium, ANZ Stadium. 

Kim Wisniewski has been appointed Information Communications Technology Manager. Wisniewski joins the company from PricewaterhouseCoopers where he held the position of ICT Consultant for the Perth Stadium project.

Commenting on the coming together of the Perth Stadium team, VenuesLive Chief Executive Daryl Kerry, stated “the new Perth Stadium team is well and truly taking shape with a number of senior executives either having already taken up their positions or transitioning across to VenuesLive. 

“In Mike McKenna, Brad Paatsch, Chris Loftus-Hills and their teams, the people of Western Australia will have many of Australia’s finest sports administrators leading the way at Perth Stadium.”

McKenna concluded “the growing VenuesLive team at the Perth Stadium site is very excited about the opportunity to operate this magnificent venue, which will continue to attract world-class events to the city of Perth.

“The calibre of people we are attracting is not surprising given the opportunities we have to attract and stage some of the best sports and entertainment properties in the world – as well as the important role this Stadium will play in the community.”

Images: How the new Perth Stadium will look when complete (top) and construction work advancing on the new venue (below).

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