Building the Future of Venues with Trevor Mitchell (IAVM), Joel Edmondson (VMA) and Steve Mackenzie (Momentus)
Thu Nov 20 2025
In every industry, there are a few leaders who don’t just work in the ecosystem, they reshape it.
This episode brings together three visionaries building the future of how the world gathers:
- Trevor Mitchell, President & CEO of IAVM, representing more than 8,000 venue professionals who create meaningful experiences in venues around the world.
- Joel Edmondson, CEO of VMA, an artist turned association leader building a powerful venue community across Australia and Southeast Asia.
- Steve Mackenzie, Chief Innovation Officer at Momentus, the technology engine behind 1.4 million events a year in stadiums, arenas, and convention centers globally.
What unfolds in this conversation is rare:
Three leaders, one ecosystem, openly sharing the truth behind innovation, community and navigating the toughest seasons of leadership.
You’ll hear:
Why failure is the price of innovation and why leaders must create cultures where ideas can break before they become brilliant. Why storytelling, creativity, and openness traits once thought “soft” are now the hardest leadership skills to master. The story of how Steve left New Zealand at 18, took an unexpected job on a small island on the Great Barrier Reef, and eventually became a global leader powering some of the world’s most iconic events through his work at Momentus. How Trevor approached his first 90 days as CEO of a 100-year-old organization and immediately began crafting its next century of impact. How Joel’s upbringing as an artist and producer shapes the way he sees people, experiences and leadership.You’ll learn about leadership, partnership and shaping global experiences told by the people who quietly build the stages the world stands on.
If you care about the future of events, technology, community or leadership you’ll want to hear this.
Guest Links:
www.iavm.org
www.vma.org.au
www.gomomentus.com
About Me:
www.davidjalexander.com
More
In every industry, there are a few leaders who don’t just work in the ecosystem, they reshape it. This episode brings together three visionaries building the future of how the world gathers: - Trevor Mitchell, President & CEO of IAVM, representing more than 8,000 venue professionals who create meaningful experiences in venues around the world. - Joel Edmondson, CEO of VMA, an artist turned association leader building a powerful venue community across Australia and Southeast Asia. - Steve Mackenzie, Chief Innovation Officer at Momentus, the technology engine behind 1.4 million events a year in stadiums, arenas, and convention centers globally. What unfolds in this conversation is rare: Three leaders, one ecosystem, openly sharing the truth behind innovation, community and navigating the toughest seasons of leadership. You’ll hear: Why failure is the price of innovation and why leaders must create cultures where ideas can break before they become brilliant. Why storytelling, creativity, and openness traits once thought “soft” are now the hardest leadership skills to master. The story of how Steve left New Zealand at 18, took an unexpected job on a small island on the Great Barrier Reef, and eventually became a global leader powering some of the world’s most iconic events through his work at Momentus. How Trevor approached his first 90 days as CEO of a 100-year-old organization and immediately began crafting its next century of impact. How Joel’s upbringing as an artist and producer shapes the way he sees people, experiences and leadership.You’ll learn about leadership, partnership and shaping global experiences told by the people who quietly build the stages the world stands on. If you care about the future of events, technology, community or leadership you’ll want to hear this. Guest Links: www.iavm.org www.vma.org.au www.gomomentus.com About Me: www.davidjalexander.com