ON THE UP

CEO TIM WATSFORD LED THE NORTHERN TERRITORY MAJOR EVENTS COMPANY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC TO CATAPULT THE TOP END TO NEW HEIGHTS.

- ANNE MAJUMDAR

NAME: Tim Watsford

COMPANY: Northern Territory Major Events Company

POSITION: CEO

LOCATION: Darwin, Australia

When Tim Watsford was first approached for the job as CEO of Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) back in October 2017, he initially had little interest. A “city boy through and through”, the thought of relocating his family to the NT and leaving behind a dream job at the National Rugby League seemed too wild to consider. But always drawn to a challenge, by March 2018, he found himself leading the company and discovering a love of living in Darwin.

“Since then, we’ve had some amazing outcomes,” he tells The CEO Magazine. The government-funded company has grown its headcount from just 16 to 37 full-time employees and around 150 contractors. Turnover is expected to hit A$35 million this year. The pandemic, while catastrophic for so many tourism operators across Australia and New Zealand, has not stopped NTMEC from realising its strategic objectives and delivering tangible never before seen outcomes for the NT.