AEG Ogden’s senior executive has become the first Asia-Pacific region representative to be elected president to lead a top association for convention centers worldwide.
Geoff Donaghy was elected president of the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) during its annual meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. Brussels, Belgium-based AIPC comprises more than 170 of the world’s leading facilities across 55 countries with a network of 900 active senior management-level executives.
As AEG Ogden’s director of convention centers, which numbers eight under management, Donaghy has been a strong advocate for encouraging and recognizing excellence in venue management. He said from Cape Town the association is in a very sound financial position with a stable and clearly defined global membership.
“We are now able to further advance the important role convention centers play in economic, academic and professional development while expanding on education, training and networking programs for our members,” said Donaghy.
A board member for the past eight years and vice-president for the past six, Donaghy succeeds outgoing Pres. Edgar Hirt from Hamburg, Germany, and is joined by directors from the UK, Europe, the United States and Singapore.
Donaghy also will assume the CEO position of the new $1 billion International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney project at Darling Harbour, which commences construction in December.
He said while it was a great honor and privilege to be recognized by his global peers, the appointment also recognizes the profile of the ICC and the Darling Harbour Live project’s role in establishing Sydney as Australia’s “global city.”
AEG Ogden is a joint venture between Australian venue management interests and AEG Facilities of the United States. AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
