Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Marcus Evans event spotlights latest trends in Australia’s public venue safety and security

Marcus Evans event spotlights latest trends in Australia’s public venue safety and security
October 21, 2024

This week sees the international event management company, Marcus Evans, hosting the 2024 Public Venue Safety & Security conference at the Pullman Sydney Airport. The event focus is on the latest trends in Australia’s safety and security sector, specifically on establishing safety through integrated threat detection strategies and advanced crowd management techniques.

The event is bringing together over 100 delegates and 20 speakers. Presentations cover a range of case studies which address topics ranging from regulatory compliance, evolving industry standards, to stakeholder engagement to ensure public safety and security. Technological developments are also being spotlighed, particularly advancements in camera technology and video analytics.

Day one featured a keynote by Stuart Bailey, former Head of Security & Anti-Corruption Compliance at Cricket Australia who emphasised the importance of communication between stakeholders in implementing effective preventative security measures. Bailey also covered strategies which are now seen as critical to countering security breaches, such as hostile events as well as pitch invasions. These included innovative approaches such as safety guard positioning as well as regular meetings between police, venue management, security officials, and event directors leading up to events. Other preventative steps even extended to liaising with immigration to track serial international pitch invaders. The increase in pitch invasions over the years has seen fines of up to $13,500 being introduced as a deterrent.

A particularly interesting case study was presented by Kevin Poilly, Manager of Events & Sister Cities at Blacktown City Council. Poilly discussed the evolution of the Australia Day Festival in Western Sydney, which had faced significant challenges in 2010. These included 80 arrests, 160 lost children, and cultural tensions due to alcohol consumption, and extreme heat. In response to negative feedback particularly from families the event was transformed into a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration the following year in 2011. Changes included shifting the entertainment from rock to country and blues, increasing the availability of water stations, and creating segregated areas for police and marshals to monitor the crowds. While attendance initially dropped from 40,000 to 7,000, the event has since grown to 25,000 in 2024, with no incidents and strong vendor and stakeholder support.

Other presenters on Day One included Stephen Goss, founder of L.E.V.8, who addressed the need for event and venue managers to reduce the time spent on the administrative aspects of compliance. He introduced his company’s cloud-based SaaS platform that provides real-time access to safety-critical information, as well as compliance status, and the function of being able to file event documents, and action items, all in one place. The L.E.V.8 Portal, designed by Goss, has gained a strong reputation in recent months as it allows organisers to create and manage multiple events from a central dashboard, with an interactive file management system for instant access to policies and procedures.

The three day event continues on Tuesday with an address by Andrew Cooke, Head of Safety Security & Access at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and will conclude on Wednesday with a keynote by Scott Taylor CPP, Managing Director of Praesidium Risk and Resilience on Conducting Risk Assessments to Identify Potential Targets and Prioritise Security Measures

Image. Patrick Elliott, CEO and Founder VisualCortex speaking Day one at the 2024 Public Venue Safety & Security conference. Credit: James Croll, Australasian Leisure Management

About the author

James Croll

With a background in adventure tourism, events management and marketing, James Croll is a regular contributor to Australasian Leisure Management and Asian Leisure Business.

Click here to view his LinkedIn profile.

Read more from this author

Related Articles

14th October 2024 - Marcus Evans Public Venue Safety and Security Conference aims to elevate safety strategies

15th January 2020 - Marcus Evans Conferences to stage latest public safety and security event series seminar

7th June 2024 - VMA announces return of Institute of Venue Safety and Security program

5th March 2024 - Venue Safety and Security Exchange to return in July

4th July 2023 - Countdown to first Venue Safety and Security Exchange event

26th May 2023 - VMA launches Venue Safety and Security education program

6th March 2023 - Inaugural Venue Safety and Security Exchange conference to be staged in Sydney

15th August 2019 - Smart Stadium and Arena Congress to address fan experience, venue safety and revenue generation


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Debitsuccess

Debitsuccess is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Golf / Recreation

 
 

Centaman Entrance Control

Turnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…

read more

Access / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Fluidra Commercial

  Fluidra Commercial Australia develops innovative, highly technical and sustainable solutions designed to create unique aquatic facilities for the 'Commercial Pool' category. Public…

read more

Aquatics / Environment / Sport / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976, and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is one of the world leaders in the design, production, and installation of…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 

HIB Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd

HIB Insurance Brokers - Experts in Leisure and Amusement Insurance With over 20 years specialising in the Amusement and Leisure industries, we have the experience to understand your operations and…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Insurance / Recreation / Safety

 
 

InterQuad (International Quadratics) 

InterQuad (International Quadratics)  With a combined legacy spanning over 150 years, International Quadratics (founded in 1976) and Pierce Pool Supplies (originally established in 1898 as A H…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

Links Modular Solutions

Links Modular Solutions was a leading provider of high-quality, innovative software solutions for aquatic and recreation facilities. Links Modular Solutions is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Fitness / Technology

 
 

Digonex

Digonex is a leading provider of customised dynamic pricing solutions to clients in arts and entertainment, sport, attractions, cultural institutions and retail sectors. Digonex’s technology is…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business