Please consider standing for the EVANZ Board in 2023. Full details and the nomination form can be accessed via this link:
2023 EVANZ Board Election
Congratulations to Charles Forbes who retired from The Regent on Broadway this year. His extraordinary echeivements were recognised atthe 2020 EVANZ Awards when he was presented aith the Contribution to the Industry Award by the EVANZ Board.
Announcing the newly elected EVANZ Board members. Congratulations to Joelene Elliott, James Parkinson and Mark Meckalick. Thank you to all the Members who voted in the election.
Venue Representatives - Nominees
Joelene Elliott - Energy Events Centre Rotorua
Joelene Elliott
Born and raised in a small eastern bay town, Joelene moved to Rotorua after finishing high school to study Tourism at Waiariki Polytechnic, which led to employment with Tourism Rotorua Marketing as a Marketing Assistant.
An opportunity arose to work at the Rotorua Convention Centre where she completed a Diploma in Tourism Industry Management, graduated from Public Venue Managers School and was promoted to Operations Manager for the Rotorua Convention Centre, Civic Theatre, Soundshell and Tea House.
With her background and experience (spanning over 15 years so far) she continues to work in the industry managing Rotorua’s premier facility, the Energy Events Centre. Also in 2013 she completed the Accredited Venue Manager (AVM) programme designed to recognise extensive venue management experience, contribution and qualifications for middle to senior managers.
Joelene hs served on the EVANZ Board since 2016 and is the current Vice-Chair.
Mark Mekalick - Trafalgar Centre/Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Mark Mekalick
Tēnā koutoa katoa.
Since attending my first EVANZ conference in 2014 I have been a big advocate for EVANZ and the work that is done to support our wonderful industry. I am proud and honoured to stand for the EVANZ Executive and would love the opportunity to represent our great venues of Aotearoa New Zealand. I have been working in the venue management industry for ten years. I started in 2010 as an Operations Assistant at TSB Hub in Hawera after graduating from Massey University. After a number of years working at that facility I was offered the opportunity to become the Facility Manager. I worked at the TSB Hub for seven years before accepting the role of Venue Manager of Trafalgar Centre and Trafalgar Park in Nelson. I have now been with Trafalgar Venues for three years. One of the proudest moments of my career so far was when the Trafalgar Centre won Medium Venue of the Year at the 2019 EVANZ Awards. Right from an early age I have been a true venue geek. When I was young I used to get very excited when driving past or visiting any stadium or arena (and to be honest, not much has changed, I still get excited when visiting all venues). On a trip to Europe I drove my wife mad when I insisted on doing every stadium tour in every city we visited. I would love to join the EVANZ Executive! I have a lot of energy and knowledge and want to be able to give back to an industry that I am very passionate about. I would specifically like to be a voice for the younger venue members and those from regional centres. I feel that we have a fantastic base of young members and I want to help to empower them in their journey to become future venue managers and executives. As we all know, the industry is facing some tough and challenging times and the road ahead can look a little unclear.
Jason Wade - Clarence Street Theatre
Jason Wade has been involved in the arts industry professionally for over 10 years. After returning from living in London where Jason worked in regional management, Jason studied theatre at the University of Waikato and took on arts management roles locally. Five years ago Jason was appointed General Manager of Clarence St Theatre. He has elevated Clarence St Theatre from being an under-utilised and undervalued performing arts space to a thriving key part of regional infrastructure. Jason believes performing arts venues of all sizes play an integral role in the wellbeing and health of our communities. It is no longer enough for performing arts centres to only play host to local performing arts organisations and present visiting artists and programs from across the country and around the world, venues, events and organisations need to take an active role in leading change in our communities. Jason is an outspoken and strong advocate for our industry and works collaboratively with several other venues across Aotearoa.
James Parkinson - Auckland Stadiums
James Parkinson
I am the Director of Auckland Stadiums and, in that capacity, have the privilege of leading a dedicated team of venue professionals that run Mt Smart Stadium, Western Springs Stadium, and North Harbour Stadium. We host over 640,000 visitors a year (in normal times!) and have embedded a strong culture of placing the customer at the centre of everything we do in order to deliver as much value as possible back to our industry partners.
Throughout my 22-year involvement in the event venue industry, our industry’s viability and sustainability has never been more under threat than it is now due to COVID-19. It is more important than ever that we come together as a strong industry organisation that can effectively advocate for our needs and the economic and social betterment of our communities. In this context, I am very keen to join the EVANZ Board and contribute my strategic thinking and senior leadership experience. Our industry can, and should, have a vital role to play in re-building community and local economies as New Zealand navigates its way through this global pandemic.
While my industry involvement over the last eight years has been very much focused on the stadia sector, my previous consulting career saw me involved in a wide range of event venues throughout the country including theatres, convention centres, indoor arenas, and exhibition facilities. I do, therefore, have the benefit of a broad industry perspective.
My governance experience includes being a former director of Horwath HTL Ltd (consulting firm), a former trustee of the Silo Theatre and Oranga School and I am currently on the governing body at St Aidan’s Anglican Church.
I am hard-working and very focused on being a team player. I would welcome the opportunity to join the Board at this time and contribute back to an industry that has given me so much fun, enjoyment, and reward over the years.
Thanks to everyone who joined us on Thursday 17th September.
If you missed the session on Thursday you can see a recording here.
Justin Pule (Ticketmaster), Sarah Alder (Ticketek), Reece Preston (iTicket) and James McGlinn (Eventfinda) gave us an excellent insight into how the world of ticketing has changed over the past few months.
Nominations are being called for the EVANZ Board. Nominations are required for 4 positions. If a vote is required this will take place in advance and the elected members will take up their position at the EVANZ AGM which is scheduled to be held on Tuesday 23rd November 2020 at Claudelands at 4.15pm.
Nominations are required to be received by the EVANZ Secretariat by Wednesday 30th September 2020.
Current Board:
Please ensure you have advised your nominees that you are nominating them and request a profile to be submitted to gm@evanz.co.nz by Wednesday 30th September 2020. Their profiles will be distributed to the Members and posted on the EVANZ website.
If you missed the session on Thursday 3rd September you can view a recording here.
Thanks to Layton Lillas, Gray Bartlett and Nelita Byrne for sharing their thoughts.
If you missed Part 1 of our series on Joint Ventures and Shared Risk you can view it here.
Our first session included input from Bernie Haldane (Deputy Director, General Manager Programming & Presenter Services, Auckland Live), Jude Froude (General Manager, Indian Ink Theatre Company) and Megan Peacock-Coyle (Manager, ToiToi Hawke's Bay Arts and Events Centre).
Here are all the photos from the EVANZ Awards Dinner held at Christchurch Town Hall on Tuesday 26 November 2019:
2019 EVANZ Awards Photos
Excellence Recognised at Entertainment Venue Awards
The 2019 Entertainment Venues Association of New Zealand (EVANZ) annual awards dinner took place at Christchurch Town Hall, on Tuesday 26 November, in conjunction with the EVANZ Annual Conference.
In the Venues section, Baycourt Community and Arts Centre in Tauranga was awarded both the Small Venue of the Year and Supreme Venue of the Year awards, The Trafalgar Centre in Nelson won the Medium Venue of the Year award, and Hamilton’s Claudelands won the Large Venue of the Year.
In the final section of the awards, the People category, Kyle Evelyn of H3 Group in Hamilton won the Rising Star award, Chynna Laughton of Eden Park, Auckland won Operational Manager of the Year, and Nick Sautner, Chief Executive Officer of Eden Park took out the Venue Executive of the Year and Supreme Venue Person of the Year awards.
The EVANZ Award Finalists and Recipients for 2019 are:
Health Promotion Agency Excellence in Host Responsibility Award: Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata
Spotless Best Industry Supplier Award: Red Badge
EVANZ Contribution to Industry Award: Ian Reid (formerly of Napier Municipal Theatre)
Eventfinda Large Venue of the Year Award (Over 5,000 Seats): Claudelands, Hamilton
Pixel Medium Venue of the Year (1,001- 4,999 Seats): Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Ticketmaster Small Venue of The Year (1-1,000 Seats): Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, Tauranga
VMA Venue Executive of the Year: Nick Sautner, Eden Park
Simpson Grierson Operational Manager of the Year: Chynna Laughton, Eden Park
Ungerboeck Rising Star of the Year Award: Kyle Evelyn, H3 Group
SUPREME AWARDS
EVANZ Supreme Venue of the Year Award (highest scoring nomination across the 3 venue awards - large, medium and small): Baycourt Community and Arts Centre, Tauranga
EVANZ Supreme Person of the Year Award (highest scoring nomination across the 3 people awards): Nick Sautner, Eden Park, Auckland
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