Australian Engineer incoming Chair BESydney Board

Distinguished Australian engineer Professor Mary O’Kane AC has commenced as Independent Director and Chair of the Board of strategic event bidding organisation Business Events Sydney (BESydney).

Professor O’Kane said, “I am delighted to be joining the BESydney Board as Chair at a very exciting time in the company’s 55-year history.”

“BESydney is a strong economic driver for the local visitor economy. Business events, and particularly global conferences, are a vital part of a major city. They are a great asset for building regional and global connectivity and are increasingly being used by governments globally as a platform for community impact.”  

Welcoming Professor O’Kane to the Board, BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “We are very pleased Mary accepted the opportunity to lead our Board and to work with the Executive to drive further growth from the strong position we built with our former Chair, The Hon Bruce Baird AM.”

“This is the second time Professor O’Kane has sat on the BESydney Board, previously serving a nine-year term as an Independent Director during her time as the inaugural NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (2008-2018).”

With a business and academic career spanning roles as a Dean of Engineering, a former university vice-chancellor, inaugural NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (2008-2018), and serving as member or chair on many Government and private sector boards and committees, Professor O'Kane brings an extraordinary breadth and depth of experience in the innovation, research, higher education, energy, ICT, public policy and development spheres to the BESydney Board.

Professor O’Kane’s three-year term on the BESydney Board commenced 1 February 2024.

More on the BESydney Board here.