The Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has elected Geoff Donaghy as its Chairman, succeeding Leigh Harry.

Mr Harry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, has stepped down after three years in the position.

Mr Donaghy is a Director of the Board of Management of Ogden IFC, Asia Pacific’s largest venue management company, and is Chief Executive Officer of both the Cairns Convention Centre and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. He is also overseeing Ogden IFC’s management role in the proposed Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre.

BECA was formed in 1994 and is the peak body of business event industry associations. Its membership comprises representatives from the meetings, exhibition, convention bureaux, incentive and special events sectors.

Mr Donaghy said that BECA played a vital role in uniting all sectors of the $17 billion Australian business events industry, and was the driving force behind the recently released National Business Events Research Study.

“This year, BECA will be liaising closely with Tourism Australia regarding its establishment of a Tourism Events Unit, which is a key recommendation of the Federal Government’s Tourism White Paper,” Mr Donaghy said.