AusLeisure

Longstanding Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust Chief Executive Jamie Barkley is to leave his role in October to take on a similar post at the Australian Turf Club.

Barkley, who has been the Chief Executive of the SCG Trust since February 2001, has overseen construction of the Victor Trumper and MA Noble Don Bradman Dally Messenger stands at the SCG, as well as being closely involved in helping develop the NSW Government’s stadia strategy.

He also played key roles in starting some of Australia’s most well-known sporting events, including Jane McGrath Day on day three of the Sydney Test and the NRL’s Anzac Day Cup match between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons.

He first joined the Trust in 1999 as Chief Operating Officer.

Paying tribute to his years of service, SCG Trust Chairman Tony Shepherd today advised “Jamie is an outstanding executive with a deep connection to, and understanding of, the sports that drive our city.

“When the Trust CEO role became vacant in 2001, we looked all over the world for the right replacement.

“Jamie, who had been the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer since 1999, proved to be the only person for the job.

“That he has spent the past 17 years in charge of the SCG Trust in the rough and tumble world of Sydney sport is testament to what an honest and professional executive he is – respected and liked by all.

“Without doubt, Jamie is a world class sporting administrator. He leaves the Trust in great shape and our loss is the ATC’s gain.

“His contribution to the SCG precinct is immense, from securing huge infrastructure investments, to vastly improving the match day experience of our patrons as well as establishing some of the biggest annual events on the Australian sporting calendar.

“On behalf of the SCG Trust, we thank Jamie for his contribution and wish him all the best at the ATC. We must also thank Jamie’s wife Selena and boys Rory and Sam for allowing him to give so much of his time to the SCG Trust.”

Commenting on his impending departure, Barkley added “it has been a privilege and an honour to work for the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust.

“The Trust has played an enormous part in my life and that of my family. I am forever grateful for the Trust giving me the opportunity to lead one of the world’s great sporting venues in the SCG.

“I have been very fortunate to work with highly skilled Trustees and with a very talented executive team.

“I also must pay tribute to the staff broadly, who all work together on the goal of delivering great sporting event experiences for the many millions of people who visit our grounds.

“This is an exciting time for the Trust, with the redevelopment of Allianz Stadium set to start later this year.

“The executive has a strong and stable platform to lead the Trust and deliver on the future masterplan for the SCG precinct, including the Allianz Stadium redevelopment, which will secure the future of all sports at our venues for decades to come.

“There have been many highlights and achievements over the years, from cricket Tests to Major League Baseball, Anzac Day Roosters and Dragons rugby league, Wallabies Tests, A-League and BBL grand finals and Sydney Swans and NSW Waratahs blockbusters.”

During his time at the Trust, Barkley has also overseen some of the largest domestic and international sporting events Sydney has seen, including:

• The 2014 Major League Baseball Opening Series;
• Sydney’s largest annual sporting event - the SCG’s New Year’s Test;
• Signing a 30-year contract for the Sydney Swans to play all home games and finals matches at the SCG;
• Rugby World Cup matches and Wallabies internationals;
• A-League grand finals;
• The 2000 Sydney Olympics;
• Staging some of the biggest entertainment events seen in Sydney, including the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and concerts by major international artists, including Coldplay, Robbie Williams and Ed Sheeran; and
• The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. 

Images: Jamie Barkley (top) and the Victor Trumper and MA Noble Don Bradman Dally Messenger Stand at the SCG (below).

13th June 2018 - SCG TRUST SECURES STADIUMBUSINESS VENUE TECHNOLOGY AWARD 

29th March 2018 - NSW GOVERNMENT ABANDONS ANZ STADIUM REBUILD PLANS, BACKS NEW ALLIANZ STADIUM 

15th March 2018 - SCG TRUST TRANSFORMS ON-SITE FAN ENGAGEMENT

7th March 2018 - AUSTRALASIAN VENUES SHORTLISTED FOR 2018 STADIUMBUSINESS AWARDS 

24th November 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS MASSIVE REBUILDING PLANS FOR ALLIANZ AND ANZ STADIUMS 

27th October 2017 - AUSTRALIAN RUGBY AND SPORTS SCIENCE BASE OPENS IN SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK 

9th October 2017 - SCG TRUST LAUNCHES STATE-OF-THE-ART SECURITY CENTRE

25th August 2017 - SYDNEY STADIUM DEVELOPMENTS TO BE FAST TRACKED BY NSW GOVERNMENT

23rd August 2017 - SYDNEY’S ALLIANZ STADIUM PREPARES FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECTACULAR

21st July 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES ‘COMMERCIALITY FRAMEWORK’ FOR STADIA 

19th July 2017 - POLLSTAR MID-YEAR RANKINGS SHOW AUSTRALIA’S OUTDOOR VENUES ECLIPSING INDOOR ARENAS

3rd May 2017 - MASTER PLAN FOR SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK PROPOSES ENHANCED CONSERVATION AND NEW SPORT FACILITIES 

2nd June 2016 - SCG TRUST’S TECHNOLOGY WINS AT INTERNATIONAL STADIUM BUSINESS AWARDS 

12th May 2016 - PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER COMMUNITY, EDUCATION AND SPORTING HUB IN SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK 

20th April 2016 - ADELAIDE OVAL, MCG AND SCG TRUST’S JAMIE BARKLEY IN THE RUNNING FOR TOP INTERNATIONAL STADIUM AWARDS 

11th June 2015 - SYDNEY VENUES WIN IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES AT WORLD STADIUM BUSINESS AWARDS

29th June 2014 - SCG’S NORTHERN GRANDSTAND GETS OFFICIAL OPENING

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