Cliff Wallace, CVE
Mr. Wallace is an established and proven veteran with over 58 years of experience in the public assembly venue industry. He has been a Certified Venue Executive (CVE) since 1978 and is known internationally for his industry management, administrative, operations, public-relations, planning, teaching and consulting expertise. He has consulted on the development, design, management and operational aspects of numerous facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia, including the HKCEC in Hong Kong (Phase 1 and 2 and the Atrium Link Extension).
Cliff is currently CEO of CW Venue Advisory Services LLC headquartered in the US. He most recently served as: 1) Managing Director of NWS Venue Management Ltd. in Hong Kong, a professional private management company for consultation, management and operation of convention and exhibition centres; 2) Chairman of Shenyang New World Expo Management Ltd; and 3) Vice Chairman of Hong Kong – Shanghai Venue Management (Zhengzhou) Ltd. (VMZL). The latter two companies were responsible for the management and operation of the Shenyang New World Expo and Zhengzhou International Exhibition & Convention Centre (Henan Province, PRC) respectively. He served as Chairman of VMZL from 2006 to 2012. He remains an active senior executive advisor to both companies as well as an advisor to Zhengzhou Government (Henan Province) relative to the exhibition and meeting industry.
Cliff was Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd. (HML) from May 1995 through June 2012 and served as an active member of the HML board during the same period. He served as an active consultant in the design of the first HKCEC extension between 1993 and 1995. Between 1986 and 1993, he served as President and CEO of Leisure Management International; between 1980 and 1986, as President and GM of the Louisiana Superdome; between 1975 and 1980, as Director of the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Al; and, between 1972 and 1975, Assistant General Manager of the Greenville (SC) memorial Auditorium. Prior to these executive management roles, he worked part-time in the venue industry between 1959 and 1968 gaining experience in all operational aspects of venue management.
Cliff is an Honorary President of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry having served on its board since 2002 and as its president in 2007. UFI is an 84-year-old association with members from 85 countries representing the exhibition industry. He was inducted into the Convention Industry Council’s (CIC) Hall of Leaders in 2011 acknowledging him as one of the industry’s outstanding leaders and innovators and one whose contributions have spanned many facets of the industry. He received the IAVM’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 in recognition for meritorious service and commitment to the Convention Center/Exhibition Hall Industry. He is a past Chair (2001-03) of the World Council for Venue Management (WCVM) and the Asia Pacific Exhibition and Convention Council (APECC) between 1996 and 1998. He is a past president (1984-85) of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) having served on its board for 9 years. He is the recipient of the IAVM’s most distinguished Charles A. McElravy Award for extraordinary contributions to the IAVM and to the profession of public assembly facility management. He is a member and a past Council member of the Venue Management Association (VMA) Asia-Pacific and has served as a regular instructor at VMA’s Public Venue Management School (between 1996 and 2011). He has been instrumental in the start-up of the UFI-VMA Venue Management School which is held annually in Shanghai. He received the VMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual meeting in 2019 recognizing his achievements within the venue industry, his contributions to the VMA for nearly 25 years and specifically his ambassadorship of the VMA throughout ASIA including his instrumental part in starting China’s UFI-VMA Venue Management School.