Commonwealth Games chief talks business

Written on the 22 March 2016 by Gold Coast PR Company Consulting Hall

Mark Peters, the executive responsible for organising the Gold Coast's 2018 Commonwealth Games, has outlined the vision for the international sporting spectacular.

Speaking at an invitation-only event for winners of the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, Mr Peters said the biggest challenge facing the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) would be finding and keeping the right staff.

Mr Peters said GOLDOC now had 200 staff but that figure would grow to 1400 by the time the Games were held in 2018.

He told the boardroom gathering at KPMG's Gold Coast office that the staff numbers would then drop off significantly soon after the event was finished.

"The biggest challenge for us without a doubt will be staffing,'' said Mr Peters. "We first have to find the right people and then we have to keep them engaged right through to the completion of the Games."

The lunch, hosted by KMPG managing partner Adam Twemlow, featured a Who's Who list of the Gold Coast business community.

The patrons also heard from Mayor Tom Tate and the winners of the Gold Coast Business of the Year awards for 2014 and 2015.

Burleigh Brewing co-owner Peta Fielding said winning the 2014 award had provided the business with major benefits including helping them to secure the lease on their new brewery.

Transit Australia Group chief executive Michael McGee said the company, since winning the 2015 awards in November, had been approached by an international syndicate hoping to set up an alliance to tender for major contracts.