Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Trust (MCET) has appointed of Rick Aylett as the general
manager of Nyaal
Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.
This appointment follows Aylett’s successful tenure as project director
for Nyaal Banyul. Since 2022 he has been instrumental in helping to form the venue’s
design and development, while laying the foundations for its future operations.
Funded
by the Geelong City Deal,
the Nyaal Banyul precinct will include a purpose-built convention and
exhibition space, incorporating a 1,000-seat venue, two large exhibition
spaces, meeting rooms, conference facilities and flexible event spaces.
The
precinct will also be home to retail and hospitality spaces, a large public
plaza that promises to become a feature of the Geelong waterfront and a
200-room Crowne Plaza hotel.
An internationally accomplished executive, Aylett has successfully
led the strategic development and operational delivery of over 60 major
international events, including the Commonwealth Games in India and the 2015
ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
His experience also includes serving as chief executive of the North
Melbourne Football Club, managing director of Peter Rowland Major Events, and
providing consultancy services to the Australian Football League.
Aylett
said he was excited to get to work preparing Nyaal Banyul for opening in 2026. “I’m
honoured to be given this opportunity and look forward to working with the team
to deliver meaningful and world-class experiences for event organisers and
attendees,” said Aylett.
“Greater
Geelong is such an incredible destination with so much to offer. I’m
also thrilled to be connecting and partnering with the Geelong community. The
longstanding local support and advocacy for the convention centre is the reason
we exist.
“Nyaal Banyul will be a game-changer for Geelong, and I’m eager to
contribute to its success.”
