Author: Facility Manager

FM Issue: Leadership and Operations 2014

Facility Manager: Please share a bit of you background and career history.

Trevor Dohnt: I was educated in Adelaide, studying accountancy and worked in that profession with a public transport authority. With my love of sport—and in particular tennis—I spent endless hours working voluntarily in tennis administration. An opportunity arose in 1987 to move to Melbourne to take up a position of finance manager of Tennis Australia. After 10 years with this organization, I moved to Sydney in 1997 to work in a sport management role for the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. At the time of the games in 2000, I moved back to Melbourne to oversee the Olympic soccer matches being staged in Melbourne. At the conclusion of the games, I was fortunate enough to be employed by the Melbourne Cricket Club to oversee all of the event operations at the 100,000-seat capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Now in my 14th year with the club, I have had the pleasure of overseeing many spectacular events, including cricket, Australian football, commonwealth games, soccer, rugby, and several concerts. I have witnessed major construction and refurbishment programs at the ground and am currently working through a phase of improving the technological capabilities at the ground. I have been actively involved with the Venue Management Association (VMA) for over 10 years, lecturing at the Venue Management School, serving on the VMS Committee, and for the last two years, on the board of the VMA. In May 2014, I was appointed to a three-year term as president.

FM: What is he most unexpected thing you’ve learned along your career path?

TD: My career has taken a few twists and turns along the way, and just when I think I havefound the “job for life” a new and interesting challenge seems to present itself. What I quickly learned in this industry is just when you think you have seen everything and have it under control, something different often lands on the doorstep. No two events are exactly the same, and every day seems to present new challenges. What never ceases to amaze me is that in times of need the number of generous people that
come forward to assist. When conducting charity events at the MCG, the number of staff, contractors, and many others who you would least expect to come forward and volunteer their time or services is fantastic.

FM: How has the venue management industry grown and changed over time?

TD: The venue industry has had to change along with the changes in social behavior and expectations. What we offer our patrons and how our staff react in different situations with patrons has by necessity had to change. Our venues are now much more comfortable, offering many more services, and staffs are better trained to deliver a higher level of customer service. If these things did not change, the large lounge sofa in front of a TV showing live sport with all sorts of replays would win the hearts of many. We have seen the level of professionalism within the industry grow and the level of governance around everything we do improve remarkably. What has not changed is the desire of individuals to witness sports and concerts live. As long as we can continue to provide the appropriate environment at the right price, the turnstiles should continue to click over.

FM: How have you grown and changed over time. What about you hasn’t changed?

TD: There is no doubt that over time I have realized the important role that I play within my team, and what I do and how I speak contributes to the culture of the organization. I would say my leadership style has changed to take on a more collaborative approach rather than early days of moving ahead and just getting the job done.
What has not changed is my desire to get the job done properly. Not quite in the category of a perfectionist but certainly not happy to accept halfhearted efforts.

FM: What is the biggest challenge and how do you think it could be handled successfully?

TD: There is no doubt that our viability revolves around our ability to attract patrons to our venues. We need to do this in an era of more and more competing demands on people’s time and in an environment when the economic situation for many households is not the greatest. Despite rising costs of “putting on the show” and venues seeking out commercial deals with suppliers—who in turn must be able to recoup that investment often through increased prices—we all need to be careful we do not put our offerings out of financial reach of our fans. Venues, hirers, and suppliers need to work with a more collaborative approach with the aim of keeping the patron experience at the top of the list.

FM: What are your professional goals for the coming year?

TD: The MCG will play host to several events over the next 12 months including the final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. With the eyes of the cricket world upon us, it is an event that will need some close attention. With the advent of the MCG introducing a range of additional technology tools at the venue, time will be required to not only understand what the technology is all about but how I can deliver a more effective and efficient way of operating the venue with the new equipment.
In my first year as president of the VMA, I need to take the time to get a full understanding of the wants and needs of our members and ensure that the structure that we put in place to deliver those needs is appropriate.

FM: Finally, what’s something about yourself that would take someone six months to learn about you?

TD: Away from the busy workload of venue management, my passion around the sport of tennisis probably not understood by most. Growing up playing the sport, volunteering my time at club and state level, and then working in the sport on a full-time basis for 10 years certainly gave me a life-long love of the game. I am still involved as a director of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation and continue to follow the careers of many of the young Australian tennis professionals. FM