The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame has welcomed six new members at a gala induction dinner last night at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The business icons have been recognised for their outstanding economic and cultural contributions to the state – and for being part of the Hall of Fame’s milestone 100th inductee cohort.
The 2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame inductees are:
- Buderim Ginger
- The late Betty Byrne Henderson AM
- Keri Craig-Lee OAM
- Harvey Lister AM
- Euan Murdoch
- Sunny Queen Australia
The Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, which now has 105 members, was established by QUT and the State Library of Queensland in 2009 to recognise the state’s most influential business leaders.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil AO said the legacy of the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame was a testament to the power of collaboration between education and cultural institutions.
“These Queensland business leaders are shaping our communities, economies and futures,” Professor Sheil said. “And their journeys offer powerful examples to our students of what is possible across industries and generations, reflecting the dynamism and diversity of our state.
“The awards celebrate our deep connection with Queensland’s business community and exemplify our commitment to real-world impact through collaboration with industry leaders. Their stories enrich our curriculum, and many inductees go on to contribute to QUT programs as guest lecturers, mentors and partners.”
State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald AM said by celebrating these visionary leaders, we recognise not only their achievements, but also the important role of business in shaping Queensland’s cultural and economic story.
“This year’s inductees reflect the ingenuity and resilience that define our business landscape, and their stories will inspire future generations.
“The remarkable contributions of the state’s business leaders are captured in State Library’s extensive collection, and we are proud to add these extraordinary inductees to that enduring legacy.”
In this story, we celebrate industry stalwart, Harvey Lister AM
Harvey Lister
Events and entertainment industry legend Harvey Lister AM has been inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of outstanding contributions to the sector over more than 50 years, including the management of iconic stadiums and arenas.
Mr Lister is the Chairman and Chief Executive (Asia-Pacific and Middle East & North Africa) for Legends/ASM Global, which operates major venues worldwide, including Brisbane’s own Suncorp Stadium, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
He has been involved in the presentation of more than 40,000 major events across sport, the arts, and conventions and exhibitions, including Olympic and Paralympic Games, G20 meetings, World Cups, and thousands of conferences and concerts.
Through his venue management, he has presented artists to Australian audiences including Elton John, INXS, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, U2, Lady Gaga, One Direction and Taylor Swift.
And it may all never have happened, had it not been for a part-time job during high school at his local newsagency.
One day the owners asked him if he would take their daughters on a school holiday outing while they worked – a favour that opened his eyes to the sparkling world of live entertainment.
“They said ‘would you mind taking the girls – catch the tram, it’s down in Victoria Park, there’ll be a tent there, it’s called ‘Disney on Ice’,” Mr Lister said.
“We walked into this massive tent and I just sat there wide-eyed.”
After school he did a radio and TV course and landed a job as a store announcer at Myer Fortitude Valley. That quickly turned into PR jobs in the early 1970s at two shopping centres managed by Myer at the time – Brookside and Chermside.
At Chermside, he had his first direct involvement with promoters and acts.
“I did a deal with the Edgleys and brought Disney on Ice to the shopping centre – the centre was jam-packed, it was extraordinary,” he said.
Those shopping centre roles gave Mr Lister many radio contacts, which led him to found the Queensland Rock Music Awards at Colour Radio 4IP and start working with concert promoters.
In 1975 he launched a concert and event management business and got his big break setting up a tour for Aussie band Sherbert. More tours followed, ranging from Stevie Wonder to AC/DC.
Brisbane’s failed bid for the 1992 Olympic Games opened another door.
The new Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall had been designed and built to host Olympic gymnastics events, but instead became a major entertainment venue under a consortium led by Mr Lister.
The consortium turned into venue management group Queensland Leisure and, after a series of mergers, became part of ASM Global in 2019.
Now Chairman and Chief Executive (Asia-Pacific and Middle East & North Africa) for Legends/ASM Global, Mr Lister is proud of the opportunities the company has created for Queenslanders.
“We always believe we create careers for people, not just jobs,” he said.
“We have people from Brisbane working all over the world; we’ve got a whole bunch of them in Hong Kong (this year) opening the brand new 50,000-seat dome stadium, Kai Tak Stadium.
“We’re lucky now that we’re part of a global family … 412 venues around the world, 38 of the great stadiums of the world, hundreds of indoor entertainment arenas, 86 major convention centres, and hundreds of other types of venues.”
Mr Lister said Brisbane 2032 would bring new opportunities for Legends/ASM Global.
“We’re looking forward to not just our existing managed venues being part of the solution for the Olympics, but also for us to be involved in some of the new venues,” he said.
“I think Queensland will be really well set up for the long term with what these venues can deliver in our communities.”
Profile
In recognition of outstanding and sustained leadership contributions to the events and entertainment industries, stadium development and stadium management both nationally and internationally.
Harvey Lister AM is one of Australia’s most influential figures in live entertainment, venue management, and tourism. He began his career in public relations at Myer in 1971 and launched Tour Promotions in 1975, managing venues and entertainment agencies including the Brisbane Underground Nightclub and Premier Artists Queensland.
In 1986, Lister founded Queensland Leisure, managing the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and pioneering world-class venue development in partnership with AEG Facilities. This evolved into AEG Ogden, which later merged to form Legends-ASM Global in 2019. As Chairman and CEO, Lister now oversees more than 300 premier venues worldwide, including Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, London’s O2 Arena, and LA Live.
Lister’s leadership has driven immense growth in Queensland and Australia’s tourism economies. He has helped deliver over 40,000 global events and generated significant economic benefits, such as a $50 million boost from a single Pink concert in Townsville. His legacy includes innovations like the VenueShield COVID-safety program.
A founding member of the Venue Management Association (Asia Pacific), Lister is also a strong advocate for community, sustainability, and inclusion. Under his guidance, venues such as Perth’s RAC Arena and the O2 Arena have become global leaders in sustainable operations. He has championed youth employment and supported the arts and education through philanthropy.
Lister’s honours include the Australian Centenary Medal (2002), the Lord Mayor’s Legends of Brisbane Award (2013), the Australian Tourism Legend Award (2017), and Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2021. He has served on numerous industry boards, including the Tourism and Transport Forum and the Committee for Brisbane.
Harvey Lister’s legacy is one of visionary leadership, industry transformation, and a lasting impact on Australia’s cultural and economic landscape.
