Ogden IFC, operator of the Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre, has announced two senior executive appointments.

Malu Barros will commence as General Manager in early December.

Ms Barros has been General Manager of the Sydney Showgrounds, which is part of the Sydney Olympic Park complex, for the past five years. Prior to that appointment, Ms Barros was Events Director of the Ogden IFC-operated Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for six years, and has extensive hotel sales and operational experience both in Australia and Asia.

Narelle Thompson commenced as Sales and Marketing Manager in the Darwin Centre’s pre-opening office on October 10.

Ms Thompson was previously Marketing Manager at the SKYCITY Casino and Hotel in Darwin where she had been employed since April 2003. She has worked in senior hotel sales positions in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Also joining the pre-opening team is Executive Assistant, Trisha Lee Long who has previously worked at the Cairns Convention Centre and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium – both Ogden IFC operated venues.

The multi-purpose Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre is the centrepiece of the AUD $1.1 billion Darwin City waterfront development, which is a Public Private Partnership with the Northern Territory Government.

To be finished in 2008, the Centre will include a 1500 seat auditorium and 4000 square metres of exhibition space.