Executive
Brad Jenkins
Chief Executive
Brad is highly respected as an accomplished, trusted and commercially astute leader. With more than 30 years of senior management experience, Brad has an outstanding record across a broad range of sectors including events, venues, agriculture, hospitality, entertainment, leisure, sport, and media.
Brad joined the Melbourne Royal in April 2008 as General Manager, Marketing and Business Development and in 2018 was appointed Chief Commercial Officer. The Board appointed Brad as Chief Executive Officer in October 2019.
Brad is a Board Director of International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE), a voluntary, not-for-profit corporation, representing more than 1,100 agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions around the world. Brad is a Board Director of Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) that represents over 580 agricultural shows nationwide to engage, influence and promote the essential value of Australian Agriculture. Brad is also a Board Director of Showgrounds Nominees an Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) between the Victorian State Government and Melbourne Royal.
Dianne Silvestro
Executive General Manager, People & Culture
Dianne has spent most of her career as a human resources professional working in logistics, IT and health industries. The focus in her career is building the HR function to be a true business partner, to understand how to attract, engage and retain the team to create an environment that achieves the company's strategic goals and within a high performing culture.
Dianne joined Melbourne Royal in May 2018 and is passionate about driving accountability and uplifting performance which empowers employees to build their knowledge and consistently deliver great outcomes for the organisation.
Darryl Ferris
Executive General Manager, Finance & Corporate Services
Darryl is a qualified CPA with over 20 years’ experience as a finance professional. He has vast experience working in the events and hospitality industries, sporting organisations and with not-for-profit entities as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and company secretary.
Darryl has recently served as the CFO of Motorsport Australia and concurrently as the CEO of Rally Australia where he was responsible for overseeing the delivery of the World Rally Championship event in Australia.
As an experienced leader, Darryl joined Melbourne Royal in March 2020 and is poised to lead the Finance and Corporate Services team in an era of exciting change and opportunity for the organisation.
Hannah von Bibra
Executive General Manager, Client Experience & Commercial
Hannah brings a wealth of venue and commercial knowledge to Melbourne Royal. With experience across complex facilities including; Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Town Hall and Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Hannah has vast experience in elevating the customer journey whilst working with partners and clients to provide mutually beneficial gains to those working together. Hannah joined Melbourne Royal in 2019 in the role of Head of Commercial and Partnerships in January 2019 and was promoted to the Executive Team in January 2020.
Frank Martinuzzo
Executive General Manager, Operations
Frank has more than 35 years’ experience in event operations and venue management. Frank began his career at Melbourne Royal coordinating all areas of safety, risk and operations at Melbourne Showgrounds for 28 years and then went onto establish his own private consultancy business that specialised in event operations, risk management and OH&S. Some of the events Frank has been involved include: St Kilda Festival, Falls Festival, Splendour in the Grass, Sydney Easter Royal Show, Ekka, Royal Adelaide Show, Royal Hobart Show and Melbourne International Coffee Expo. Frank’s wealth of knowledge and experience in event operations and venue management is second to none and we are delighted that Frank has chosen to return to our organisation on a permanent basis as Executive General Manager, Operations
Darren Keating
Executive General Manager, Agriculture
Darren is a highly experienced leader and agribusiness professional with over 20 years’ experience in agriculture and food working across the public, private and for- purpose sectors.. He is currently the Executive General Manager Agriculture at Melbourne Royal, and prior to this role, Darren held positions at International Fresh Produce Association, Australian Fodder Industry Association, Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), and the Department of Primary Industries. Having grown up on a family sheep farm in Victoria, Darren has broad knowledge and experience in the Australian agriculture and the food supply chain including technical production.
Marcia Allan
Executive General Manager – Marketing and Membership
Marcia has over 20 years’ experience working in marketing and digital for some of Australia’s largest and most trusted brands. She has deep consumer and enterprise knowledge gained across a wide range of sectors including sport, professional services and the non-profit sector.
With a background in data, digital and customer experience, Marcia is poised to enhance digital capability to deliver ongoing cohesion between Melbourne Royal’s brand purpose and the delivery of an exceptional omni-channel customer experience for all patrons and exhibitors.
Before joining Melbourne Royal, Marcia previously worked in Victorian Thoroughbred Racing where she was responsible for reinvigorating engagement in the Spring Racing Carnival, launching the Here for the Horses equine welfare brand platform and developing new digital innovation.
Marcia is currently the Executive General Manager Marketing and Membership at Melbourne Royal, where her portfolio includes brand strategy, consumer and trade marketing, audience research, promotions, media, social media and membership.