Update from the General Manager
The first few months of the year delivered a strong calendar of events and a robust start to a busy and vibrant 2025.
During that time, we were also visited by Tropical Cyclone Alfred!
With a great collaborative effort, working closely with our loyal and much valued clients we were able to successfully reschedule 31 events, a remarkable result. A big shout out to our amazing staff for a job well done amid challenging circumstances.
We also managed to deliver a 1300 pax dinner for long-time clients, Clubs Queensland, scheduled during Alfred. “The BCEC Team were in constant contact throughout the week and went above and beyond to ensure AHG Expo and Club Queensland Awards had the resources to stage the event.” Club Queensland’s Kelly-Anne Mott said she was very grateful for the flexibility and adaptability and for the close relationship they share with the Centre.
The countdown is on to BCEC’s 30th anniversary on June 6, Queensland Day, celebrating three decades of bringing people and events together – events that have entertained, educated and informed. Thirty years of continuous and successful operation, in any organisation, is an impressive achievement and much of what we have to celebrate today is the result of the foundational work done by Bob O’Keeffe AM, former General Manager, now the Centre’s CEO and Legends ASM Chief Operating Officer – Venue Operations for APAC.
There was great excitement and anticipation at the recent release of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Delivery Plan, Delivering 2032 and Beyond, announced by Queensland’s Premier, David Crisafulli.
BCEC is in the enviable position with its location in the South Bank Precinct, set to be a central and critical hub for Games activity, together with the recommendation by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, that Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre host the Main Press Centre for the Games.
We continue to work with our key city partners to maximise conference opportunities in the lead-up to 2032 and beyond.
2025 is shaping up as a year of significant milestones for BCEC. In addition to our 30th anniversary celebrations, the year also marks 15 years of the highly successful BCEC Convention Advocates Partnership. It is humbling to witness the amazing work of the leaders of our research community and industry sectors, that fundamentally changes the world we live in.
It was a dynamic and energetic start to the year including some big name ticketed and on-stage events enticing 55,700 patrons through the doors during February and March.
Kicking off a very busy calendar for May and June was the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), with 2,800 attendees, playing a crucial role in driving tourism business from key international tourism markets to Australia. It was wonderful to welcome our industry partners and friends to the Centre and have the opportunity to showcase all Queensland has to offer.
Thank you for your on-going interest and support.
Celebrating Excellence
In March, the Centre’s popular Plaza Ballroom played host to members of BCEC’s Convention Advocates Partnership and key industry leaders, at a gala dinner celebrating the 15th anniversary of the highly successful collaboration between Queensland’s top scientists, innovators and business leaders.
It is a partnership critical to attracting key sector international conventions to Brisbane enabling the global sharing of life changing knowledge and expertise, while showcasing Brisbane’s world leading research excellence and ground breaking innovation.
This network of influential thought leaders has delivered 163 conferences to BCEC during those 15 years, many of which reflect Brisbane and Queensland’s world leading research and science excellence in medical research, health care, technology, agriculture and energy sectors.
It was an extraordinary gathering where the power of conferences and Business Events was acknowledged and celebrated.
Our special guests were also treated to an exclusive cameo performance by the talented members of the Queensland Ballet Academy. The Centre is privileged to have been able to share many wonderful experiences with our community as part of BCEC’s12 year partnership with Queensland Ballet.
The Centre’s Chefs meticulously curated a special four course dinner featuring local produce including plant-based items from Queensland’s iconic Scenic Rim as well as our famous seafood and Australian native flavours woven into each course.
A Very Personal Exhibition
BCEC is delighted to announce All Shades, a striking photographic exhibition by Kamilaroi artist Dean Saffron, that invites audiences to see First Nations Peoples as they choose to be seen – with strength and pride. The exhibition opens during Reconciliation Week in May.
A stunning collection of 30 large-scale portraits, All Shades captures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from all walks of life across Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Each portrait represents a genuine collaboration between the artist and the participants who hail from remote communities to city streets, cattle stations and coastal towns. Significantly Saffron’s subjects choose the background against which they are photographed, shaped by their personal history and sense of belonging. “This work isn’t about me, the people in these portraits are the storytellers,” says the artist.
Saffron travelled thousands of kilometres to capture these stories, recording oral histories and creating a visual archive that will be preserved for future generations.
A long-time friend of BCEC, Dean Saffron is a celebrated documentary photographer and filmmaker whose lens has captured humanity in its most honest and rawest moments. His work spans global humanitarian projects for UNICEF and the World Food Program, as well as leading brands, including Shell, Billabong and Jacobs Creek
The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, 31 May 2025 and runs until the end of NAIDOC Week Sunday, 13 July 2025.
Proudly supported by the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC), the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Queensland State Library.
Truck Show Draws Record Crowds
The biggest automotive exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere, The Brisbane Truck Show, rolled into the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre last week attracting a record crowd of 54,790 smashing the previous high of 42,855 back in 2023.
Big rigs, trucks, trailers and accessories along with the very latest in transport, equipment and technology delighted an excited audience of truck enthusiasts and members of the trucking fraternity from Australia and internationally.
The Show – now a week-long Brisbane festival is the largest automotive exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere.
Hosted by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) the Truck Show is everything that makes the trucking industry great and keeps Australia connected – with innovation, road safety, sustainability and education all on the agenda.
The 2025 Brisbane Truck Show featured more than 35,000 square metres of exhibition space showcasing the latest trucks, trailers, parts and accessories across three levels of the Centre.
BCEC General Manager, Kym Guesdon said the Truck Show was one of the highlights on the Brisbane events calendar and the biggest event in scale and size to be held at the Centre, with an additional 17 associated events taking place at BCEC during the Show.
Sneak Peak
It has been a busy time behind the scenes in the Centre’s kitchens, with Executive Chef Matthew Arnold and his cohort of culinary professionals focused on the final stages of developing BCEC’s new menu, due for release in coming weeks.
Chef Matthew, who characterises his role similar to that of a conductor of an orchestra with many sections, says there is much to consider in the development of a menu for an internationally renowned venue.
“From the ideas stage to research and building the menus with creativity, variety, flexibility and a commitment to excellence, is a six month journey,” he says.
“Seasonality of food is a recurring theme along with flavour, freshness and culinary innovation, as is environmental responsibility,” he says.
“We are fortunate to have Queensland’s abundance and diverse variety of fresh produce on our door step with local produce the champion of our menus.”
In creating the menu, Matthew Arnold has drawn on his team’s combined culinary expertise and experience derived from the many different nationalities that make up the Centre’s kitchen.
Without giving too much away, Chef Matthew reveals that 60 percent of the 2025 Menu is new, while assuring patrons that their year-on-year favourites are still available. Stay tuned!
Around the Precinct
The South Bank Precinct – home to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, was a place of wonder and scientific magic during March when Queensland Museum Kurilpa and parts of the Precinct were transformed with the curious activities of the World Science Festival Brisbane.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa was converted into a nexus point for global scientific discourse – where quantum physics met coral reefs and astrophysicists shared the stage with high school science students.
As the exclusive Asia Pacific partner of New York’s World Science Festival, Queensland continues to showcase the power of science to inspire, connect and drive impactful change in our communities.
The 2025 program captured imaginations across all ages, with over 17,000 tickets issued for public and educational events while 70,500+ visitors were welcomed to the Cultural Precinct and surrounding areas during the festival period.
BCEC joined the festival this year, hosting the Quantum Australian Conference 2025 with 606 delegates including world-leading Quantum researchers, startups and big techs among the audience. 2025 marked 100 years since the foundational discoveries that gave a rise to Quantum.
Meet The Team
In the fast-paced world of large scale business events, BCEC’s pastry kitchen delivers beautifully crafted creations to thousands of guests each year. At the helm are two of the Centre’s Senior Chef de Parties – Valentino Huang and Colin Kuan – whose combined experience and individual strengths bring flair and precision to every plate.
Valentino’s career spans prestigious venues and luxury hotels in Australia and overseas. He has created bespoke desserts for high-profile clients such as Chanel and Jaguar and played a key role in opening two bakeries in Perth. Now, at BCEC, he’s found a new challenge and a team that thrives on collaboration. His attention to detail and creativity shines through in every dish, including recent creations like hand-crafted leprechaun hats for St Patrick’s Day. His favourites to make at home? Tiramisu and vacherin.
Working alongside him is Colin Kuan, whose culinary journey began in Chinese cuisine in Kuala Lumpur. He transitioned into pastry after relocating to Australia, refining his craft in luxury hospitality venues. Colin has created exclusive flavours and themed desserts for VIP clients such as Dior and Jimmy Choo. He brings that same creative energy to BCEC, most recently in hand-crafted Romeo and Juliet-inspired rose desserts. His passion for pastry shines at BCEC, where he enjoys the camaraderie and supportive nature of the team. “You know the team won’t let you down,” he says.
Together, Valentino and Colin elevate BCEC’s culinary excellence, ensuring every event is as memorable as it is delicious.
