HKCEC Managing Director receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre's ("HKCEC") Managing Director, Mr Cliff Wallace, CFE, has been honoured with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Convention Center/Exhibit Hall Committee of the International Association of Assembly Managers ("IAAM"). The IAAM is the largest international association representing public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centres.The award is presented to those individual IAAM members recognised for their outstanding leadership contributions and exemplary service to the convention and exhibition centre industry. "We salute Cliff for his humble and very effective leadership to our industry. He has made a difference in the professional development of many facility managers and rising managers over the years. We are pleased to honor him with this Lifetime Achievement Award," said Kevin Duvall, Chair of the IAAM Convention Center/Exhibit Hall Committee.
Wallace is a veteran venue operator having worked within the industry for nearly 50 years. He has been the Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd. and Chairman of Hong Kong - Shanghai Venue Management (Zhengzhou) Ltd. since 1995 and 2006 respectively. These companies are under contract for the total management and operation of the HKCEC and the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre (ZZICEC) in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. "I am genuinely honoured to have received this recognition" Wallace said. "One of my biggest career thrills has been watching the HKCEC and ZZICEC staff advance in their knowledge and competency of the convention and exhibition centre business in Hong Kong and Zhengzhou and I am confident that future industry leaders will evolve." Wallace was the first venue chief executive and Asian representative to be elected the President of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry in 2007. He has demonstrated his commitment to educating the industry's future leaders through his involvement as an instructor at the Venue Management Association's (VMA) Public Venue Management School in Australia for 12 years. A member of IAAM since 1973, Wallace served as the Association's president in 1984-1985. He received his Certified Facilities Executive certification in 1978.
He was honored with IAAM's most distinguished Charles A. McElravy Award for meritorious service and extraordinary contributions to the Association and our profession in 1989. He is the IAAM's Ambassador to China. In connection with his responsibilities in the mainland overseeing the ZZICEC, Wallace received the 2008 Yellow River Friendship Award which is presented to those individuals who have made prominent contributions to the economic development of the Henan Provincial Government in China. He also served as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic School of Hotel and Tourism Management between 2002 and 2006.