Legends ASM Global (APAC & MENA) Chairman & CEO Harvey Lister AM has been inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of outstanding contribution to the events and entertainment sector for more than 50 years.
Last night’s induction dinner, held fittingly at the ASM Global managed Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, was attended by over 1000 business leaders.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised as one of this great state’s influential business leaders and to have so many family, friends and colleagues who have been with me on this incredible journey over the last 50 years share in the celebrations last night.”
“This is also a special reflection of the enduring and successful business partnership I have with Rod Pilbeam, who joined me in the mid 70s to take Aussie band Sherbet on the road”, Lister said.
“Since then, we have never looked back and through a series of businesses we have been involved in presenting more than 40,000 major events across sport, the arts, convention and exhibitions, including Olympic and Paralympic Games, G20 meetings, World Cups and thousands of conferences and concerts.”
“Our team of over 2,000 staff across Queensland’s favourite venues are a big part of this award and I am proud of the role they play in the success of our many venues here and around the world.”
“We don’t just provide jobs for people, we create careers for our team” he said.
“We have people from Brisbane working all over the world and now, after joining with the US based Legends last year, our combined network of over 412 venues around the world including 38 of the great stadiums of the world, hundreds of indoor entertainment arenas and 86 major convention centres brings opportunities for all our team.”
“I’ve been lucky to spend a lifetime in this industry, and it’s still the people, the partnerships, and the power of live events that inspire me every day.”
“We often say that events change lives — and I believe that now more than ever. Whether it is a concert, a sporting match, a community gathering, or a medical conference — these moments bring us together in ways that matter deeply. That’s the magic of what we do.”
“The first live show I saw was Disney on Ice in Victoria Park in the 1960s – the exact park where millions will be visiting and watching Brisbane 2032.”
From there Harvey joined Myer as a store announcer before quickly moving into PR for two shopping centres and then while at 4IP radio created the Queensland Rock Music Awards.
In 1975 Harvey launched a concert and event management business, working closely with promoters to tour live bands such as Sherbet, Skyhooks and ACDC’s first ever tour.
As part of Queensland Leisure, we were appointed by the Brisbane City Council to open the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in 1986, which was built as part of Brisbane’s failed bid for the 1992 Olympics.
“Next year we celebrate 40 years at Brisbane Entertainment Centre and we’ve just celebrated the the 30th anniversary of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at Southbank,” Lister said.
After a series of mergers, Lister secured management for Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Cairns Convention Centre, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium (now known as Accor Stadium), a network of five cultural centres and live theatres in Perth, Brisbane’s 52,000 seat Suncorp Stadium and the Darwin Convention Centre.
The business grew to include management of venues outside of Australia including the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, and the Wukesong Arena in Beijing (now Cadillac Arena). In 2012, the new 15,000 seat Perth Arena and in 2015, Sydney’s International Convention Centre joined the family of venues managed by Harvey’s business at the time, AEG Ogden.
Earlier this year, ASM Global delivered the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, a 50,000-seat dome stadium, 10,000 seat arena and 5,000 seat Sports Ground.
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, which now has 105 members, was established by QUT and the State Library of Queensland in 2009 to recognise the state’s most influential business leaders.
Professor Rowena Barrett, QUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship and Regional Innovation) said the new inductees helped inspire tomorrow’s leaders.
“Their entrepreneurial mindset and passion have made them all incredible leaders,” she said.
“As the university for the real world, we are so proud to be highlighting these leaders as they show our students what is possible across the state and across time.”
Mr Lister was one of six new Hall of Fame members announced last night and was recognised alongside the following for their outstanding economic and cultural contributions to the State of Queensland.
