Darren is a senior international events and live communications leader with nearly four decades of experience working on complex civic, cultural, corporate, and government-related events across Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
His work has focused on the design and governance of large-scale public and government-led programs that bring together governments, industry, civil society, and the public in high-stakes environments. A defining contribution of his career was serving as Overall Project Director for COP28, supporting the operation of a major global climate forum involving national governments, multilateral institutions, industry, and non-government organisations.
In these roles, his responsibilities have extended beyond event delivery to include governance, stakeholder coordination, risk management, accessibility, sustainability, and the development of operating frameworks that enable complex institutions to collaborate effectively under public and political scrutiny.
He has led multi-national teams and contributed to delivery approaches intended to support transparency, inclusion, and public confidence. Alongside his professional work, he has contributed to the development of the events and live communications industry through board and advisory roles, including eight years on the ILEA Asia Board, industry judging, guest lecturing, and mentoring emerging leaders.
This work has focused on strengthening professional capability, sharing knowledge, and supporting leadership development across the sector. He continues to work internationally while maintaining strong professional ties to Australia, contributing Australian expertise and perspective to public platforms and supporting the capability and professional standing of the Australian events industry.
