Natalie O’Brien AM is Chief Executive of the Victorian Convention and Event Trust (VCET), where she is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of; Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and regional Victoria’s newest venue, Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

Ms O’Brien is a former CEO of Food + Drink Victoria, producers of the internationally acclaimed Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.

Prior to joining VCET, Natalie ran her own strategic design agency for five years. During this time, she took on part-time CEO roles with Wine Victoria as well as Ballarat Regional Tourism and has spent 12 years between Tourism Victoria and the City of Melbourne in events, marketing, and cultural development roles.

Ms O’Brien was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours list for significant service to tourism, wine and the community, to the Board of the Melbourne Convention Bureau in 2024 for a term of three years, and as Ministerial Director on the William Angliss Institute Board, from 2024 to 2027.