Anthony Duffy is the owner and Managing Director of VIPeople, having contributed to the venue industry for over 30 years at some of Sydney’s iconic sports and entertainment facilities, prior to commencing VIPeople in 2001. As a Member since the VMA’s inception, Anthony brings a wealth of experience and currently sits on the VMA Board; with a previous 10–year tenure and a 21–year role as a member of the Venue Management School Committee. In 2019, Anthony was inducted as a ‘Fellow’ of the Customer Service Institute of Australia.

• Management of overall performance of the business
• Development and delivery of business strategies
• Stakeholder management
• Commercial partnerships
• Event creation and procurement

Experience
• Over 20 years of event and venue management
• Venue manager for opening of three major venues:
- 2000 The Gabba (Brisbane) post major renovations
- 2003 Suncorp Stadium redevelopment
- 2008 Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena
• Venue manager during two Olympic Games
- The Gabba (2000 Sydney Olympics)
- Beijing Olympic Basketball Arena (2008 Beijing Games)
• Founding Director of Former Origin Greats (FOGS)

Educational Background
• Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Public Administration)

Community Work:
• Community Champion and Major Fundraiser, Hear and Say
• Annual Christmas Day Lunch at Suncorp Stadium for the homeless and disadvantaged
• Annual Stadium Charity Golf Day raising $500K over the past 11 years

Leanne is an expert in body language, deception detection and situational awareness, having studied and trained with some of best body language experts in the world such as Joe Navarro, Lena Sisco and Chase Hughes.
The holder of an Expert Body Language Certificate from Joe Navarro Body Language Academy, recognised by the American Psychology Association, Leanne provides unique skills to identify intentions of people by the way they are interacting with others and the environment.
Her training in interrogation, elicitation and deception detection coupled with her 21 years of state law enforcement experience within the NSWPF, sets her above the rest in situational awareness and hostility investigation.
Leanne has travelled to London UK, where she was trained in the techniques of Project Servator from the National Project Servator Team.
Leanne holds a Bachelor of Policing, as well as tertiary qualifications in security and risk management, training and assessing, emergency management and government investigations.
Leanne is the Director of Baseline Behaviour and Consultancy Pty Ltd who specialise in training behaviour detection techniques to individuals and organisations to help eliminate the threat of hostile actions in public locations.

As a professional in the venue industry for over 20 years, Mark has held senior positions at venues around Australia, overseeing a number of major international sporting and entertainment events including all codes of football, cricket, court sports, motor sport, concerts, and festivals.
Through his career, Mark has worked with all manner of venues in both private and public sectors, including stadia, arenas, race tracks, and community leisure facilities. Mark has held senior, Executive, and consulting roles with some of Australia’s leading organisations.
Mark is currently General Manager at The Gabba. Through a COVID ravaged year in 2020, Mark led The Gabba team to be amongst the first venues to welcome fans back in significant numbers as well as delivering the historic 2020 AFL Grand Final.
His experience covers the full gamut of venue management including all operational and event delivery areas, contract management and venue design and development. He is an enthusiastic and dedicated venue professional and brings an interactive approach to his VMS sessions.
Mark has been active in the development of the venue industry in local and international markets as a Board Member with VMA for five years as well as being a member of the IAVM Diversification Committee, and a member of the IAVM Certification Board for the past five years.
Mark graduated the Venue Management School in 2003, was awarded his AVM in 2013, and achieved his CVE qualification in 2015.