After announcing his resignation on Friday (17 June) the tourism industry is farewelling Events New South Wales departing CEO, Geoff Parmenter.

The announcement comes just one week after the O’Farrell government’s announcement that the agency would be re-established within a new authority, Destination NSW. Parmenter resigned, stating he believes the time is right to hand the reins over to someone else and that he will be staying on to assist in the transition to Destination NSW.

The Tourism and Transport Forum’s (TTF) chief executive John Lee said Parmenter deserves credit for his achievements.

“As inaugural CEO, Geoff has worked tirelessly to establish Events NSW and the NSW Events Calendar over the last three and a half years,” Lee said, “and the organisation has come a very long way since then, developing a world-class events calendar.”

“In just a few short years, we’ve gone from having a disparate patchwork of events promoted independently to an integrated program with signature events that give people new reasons to come to Sydney and New South Wales.

“Sydney has now secured the Bledisloe Cup and the NRL Grand Final for at least ten years, and the best of the Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for 2014 will be in Sydney.

“The ITU World Triathlon Series and the Australian Ironman in Port Macquarie are popular annual fixtures, as is the Australian Open Golf – which will take place in Sydney until at least 2015, while the Sydney Carnival, backed a merged racing club and world class new facilities, will become a true jewel in the Australian racing crown.

“We have the world class Sydney International Art Series, this year featuring over $2 billion worth of Picassos, as well as first run musicals like The Addams Family and Strictly Ballroom, while two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey will play Richard III in Sydney later this year.

“Add in the Crave Sydney International Food Festival and Breakfast on the Bridge and you have a catalogue of major events of which any state would be proud.

“Geoff Parmenter has been instrumental in getting Events NSW to where it is today and we thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”