Todd Greenberg joins board of new Venues NSW agency

Former NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has been joined the board of the expanded Venues NSW agency.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald report on Friday, Greenberg will join the enlarged agency’s board, some seven months after leaving the NRL, with his presence giving it “representation from a younger generation and from an administrator who has until recently run a sport.”

Legislation passed through the NSW Parliament last month has expanded Venues NSW by merging it with the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, creating managing entity for sport and entertainment venues in the state, overseeing the state’s major sports venues including the SCG, the new Sydney Football Stadium, ANZ Stadium and Bankwest Stadium.

The NSW Government announced the 11 board members of new Venues NSW agency on Tuesday, with acting NSW Minister for Sport Geoff Lee advising that the venues entity has a directive to attract and win major events.

Former President of the Business Council of Australia, Tony Shepherd will be the Chair of the new agency, with Rod McGeoch, former Chief Executive of the Sydney 2000 Olympic bid, named Deputy Chair.

While taking on the Venues NSW name, it will be chaired by Form SCG Trust Chair Tony Shepherd.

Shepherd has led an interim body established in June, which also includes Sydney Olympics bid executive Rod McGeoch, ex-Australian Rugby League Chief Executive John Quayle and Suncorp Chair Christine McLoughlin.

While they and other long-serving directors of Venues NSW and the SCG Trust, including recently retired broadcaster Alan Jones, are likely to have seats on the 11 to 13-member board of the new stadiums agency, the SMH has suggested that Greenberg is also expected to be among those named.

The SMH report advises “the appointments to the board still have to be signed off by state cabinet but Greenberg’s addition would give him a voice when it comes to the stadia strategy of the code he led as chief executive from 2016 until April.”

Speaking last month after the legislation for the enlarged agency passed through the NSW Parliament, acting NSW Minister for Sport Geoff Lee stated “now we have one organisation which can take control of hosting the most exciting and in-demand events which will bring major economic windfalls for NSW.

“We have invested in world-class venues and facilities which are the envy of the world and Venues NSW will ensure we get maximum returns.”

Shepherd, who also Chairs the GWS Giants, added “Venues NSW now has an asset base which is the envy of other states around the country, giving NSW tremendous firepower to attract the biggest and the best sporting and entertainment events.

“We can also capitalise on the experience and history of the SCG Trust which forms an intricate part of this clever and dynamic merger.”

All Venues NSW and SCG Trust contracts, agreements and membership entitlements with sporting codes, clubs, partners and members will continue to be honoured and preserved by the merged entity.

The other Venues NSW board members, who will commence their terms from 1st December 2020, are:

• Kim Curtain - Deputy Secretary, Jobs, Investment and Tourism at NSW Treasury.
• Amy Duggan - former Matilda and board member of Football Federation Australia.
• Erin Flaherty - former Executive Director Infrastructure NSW and founding board member of Sydney Metro Authority.
• Ian Hammond - Chairman of previous Venues NSW entity.
• Alan Jones - Deputy Chairman of the Australian Sports Commission. The broadcaster is also a former Wallabies Coach.
• Sally Loane - Board member of Destination NSW and first female director of Waratahs Rugby.
• Christine McLoughlin - Chairman of Suncorp Group Limited and co-founder and Director of the Minerva Network.
• John Quayle - former Chief Executive of Australian and NSW Rugby League and General Manager of Venues and Precincts for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Commenting on the appointments, acting Minister Lee explained "we are embarking on an exciting transformation which will enable the one entity to get maximum returns with a strong, co-ordinated and streamlined approach to attracting events.

"We have assembled some of the greatest minds in business and the community to secure blockbuster events and drive economic activity across the state."