Event Office Open for Business

Today marks the first day of business for a dedicated Events Office for the Queenstown Lakes District.

QLDC community general manager Paul Wilson announced this morning that Simon Green has accepted the role of Event Facilitator with Council, starting today. The role fulfils Council’s decision in February to accept the recommendations of the Shaping Our Future Taskforce to establish an Events Office within Council.

“There are so many event and business opportunities in the Lakes District and this is a role that the community - through the Shaping Our Future forum - told us we needed,” QLDC Mayor Vanessa van Uden said.

Formerly the director of Winter Festival, Mr Green has run his own event management company. “Simon has an incredible wealth of experience and local knowledge. I’m delighted to have him on the team,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Green said he was looking forward to getting stuck into the new role. “I am coming at this with good knowledge of the industry and a pretty strong handle of how this role can be developed to grow and nurture existing and new events. I can’t wait,” Mr Green said.

The part time position will work alongside community arts facilitator Jan Maxwell to deliver a dedicated Events Office for the first time.

“Jan and Simon will be working with existing organisers to ensure we not only support events in this district but actively promote the Queenstown Lakes as a premier event location,” Mr Wilson said.

The pair would also work closely with an Events Advisory Group, to be considered by full Council tomorrow (Tuesday).

“The priority is to firmly establish the platform for a long term funding model not only for the Event Office, but also for a contestable fund that can be utilized to support, develop and secure events in the region,” Mayor van Uden said.

The case must then be made to Council to provide the funds required for consideration as part of the annual planning process. Terms of reference for the advisory group include guiding the Event Office business plan and operational activities. The proposed membership of the group is from throughout the district, Mayor van Uden said.