Chief Executive, Optus Stadium
Mike McKenna joined VenuesLive in November 2016 as Chief Executive Officer of Optus Stadium in Perth. As Chief Executive Officer, Mike leads a team of professionals who are responsible for operating the venue, on behalf of the Western Australian State Government, attracting and delivering world class sport and entertainment experiences for a local, national and international audience.
Optus Stadium has been a multi-award winner in its first years of operations including for catering, tourism and business events. Optus Stadium was awarded the Prix Versailles as the Most Beautiful Sports Venue in the World by UNESCO in a marketing coup that has increased the profile of the venue.
Over the first four years of operations the venue has received Customer Satisfaction scores averaging 94.5% in surveys conducted by the Western Australian State Government.
Prior to joining VenuesLive Mike spent more than eleven years on the Executive Leadership Team with Cricket Australia. In this role, Mike was responsible for helping turn Cricket Australia from an operationally focused business to a fan focused organisation with the growth of the game as the goal.
During this time, in various roles, Mike had responsibility for Commercial Revenue Generation, Marketing and Brand, Digital Communications, International Cricket Event Management, Venue Operations, Domestic Cricket competitions and Integrity. Mike was responsible for the development of the Big Bash League competitions for men and women and the first six years of operations.
Mike previously held roles as General Manager Commercial Operations with the Essendon Football Club, National Marketing Manager for professional services firm Arthur Andersen and a variety of Sales and Marketing roles with Black and Decker and Carter Holt Harvey.
Mike is also a Board Member of the Tourism Council of Western Australia, the peak body representing tourism businesses, industries and regions in the state and is Chair of the WA Heart Foundation.
