Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific
23 June 2026
BGIS President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific Dana Nelson and Victorian State Director Craig Humphries, attended the ceremonial opening of the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre ahead of its first event in July. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Plenary CEO Paul Crowe, along with project partners.
The $449 million public-private partnership project has turned Geelong into a world-class destination for global events and conferences that will attract more visitors, create jobs and generate millions in economic benefit for the region. The venue features a 1,000-seat theatre, large exhibition spaces, conference facilities, flexible event spaces and meeting rooms, food and beverage offerings and the Gheringhap Plaza public space. The centre will start hosting events from next month with more than 80 conferences and events already booked in. Nyaal Banyul will employ more than 240 people in Geelong. More than 50 local businesses are engaged in delivering events, supplying local food, wine and equipment. Construction created 1,400 jobs, with 250 apprentices completing more than 150,000 hours of hands-on training.
The public-private partnership was delivered and is now managed by the Plenary Conventions consortium – with Plenary Group as sponsor and investor, and hotel and commercial building developer, Built as builder, Woods Bagot as architect and BGIS as facilities manager – in partnership with the Victorian Government. The building was co-designed in collaboration with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
