Originally from a small country town, Simon joined the BNCC in 1998 as Assistant Events Coordinator. He later became Events Coordinator, then Vice President, and, after the early 2000s, was appointed president. Reflecting on the start of his BNCC journey, Simon recalls, “We were only about 30 members when I started.”

Building on this foundation, Simon’s sense of community remains central to the leadership philosophies he expresses today. “One of the big ethos has been around that ability to help each other. Because as an individual, it's very, very hard to grow. But as a community, if we're all working and pulling in the same direction, we can achieve a lot more,” Simon explains.Looking ahead, he notes these philosophies will also expand for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. With Simon’s resolve to prepare Brisbane for the coming games, the BNCC will focus on expanding access to quality education, Olympic opportunities, and grant-procurement pathways.

Elaborating on this approach, Simon says, “We're there to educate our members on what's available.” He goes on to explain, “So, pretty much, we act as a conduit back into the government, whether it be local, state or federal, where, when there's an opportunity, they have a tendency to let us know about some of those opportunities that are available that we can then disseminate that information back out to our members.”

Though the company has faced setbacks due to the implications of COVID-19 and fluctuating membership, its evolution has continued with a resolve to prioritise and guide the Brisbane business community. Including encouraging Brisbane business owners to engage early and collaborate with the opportunities the 2032 Olympics promise to bring.

Simon remarks, “I think we've got some of the finest people in Brisbane that can provide services that can cater for an event of this nature.”

Further delving into his advice, Simon believes that Brisbane’s strength goes beyond the Olympic limelight. He explains that, as Brisbane has developed a 24-hour airport, grown its global connectivity, and can sustain increased visitor demand, the city is uniquely positioned to maximise the opportunities the games will bring.

Australia is the endpoint destination, so having the airport, in particular, open 24 hours a day is a huge advantage for Brisbane. That is why many commercial and other carriers are now looking at making Brisbane their home base.

For Simon, however, the true success of the Olympics lies not just in the event itself but in its long-term benefits for cities’ business infrastructure.He explains, “The lasting legacy after the Olympics will be world-class stadiums and facilities. These can attract other events to Australia and also open up the eco-tourism side of things,” he says.

This perspective leads to a clear resolution: The 2032 Olympics, though beneficial, will only last a short time. Instead, it is vital for Brisbane’s businesses to remember where their strength lies.

Simon shares, "If we all strive to work together, we thrive as a business community.”