TAKE 5 WITH ADAM MATHER-BROWN, ICC SYDNEY
With more than three decades of experience across the global convention and exhibitions industry, Adam Mather-Brown is a passionate leader, strategist and champion of the power of business events to bring people, ideas and communities together.
As CEO of ICC Sydney, Adam leads one of Australia’s premier international convention, exhibition and entertainment destinations. His career has seen him play key roles in delivering some of the world’s leading business events destinations, including the Durban International Convention Centre, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Qatar National Convention Centre and ICC Sydney.
Hi, Adam. What’s your go-to motivational song or music?
My go-to motivational song is “You Bring Out the Boogie in Me” by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. It was the first album ever given to me when I was eight years old by my dad. I still have the harmonica from that time. The song has stayed with me ever since. I love its creativity, but it’s also deeply personal. The lyrics explained love and connection in a way that resonated with me even at that young age. Most of all, it reminds me of my father, who loved playing the harmonica after enjoying a tipple. Every time I hear it, it takes me straight back to those memories.
What’s a skill people would be surprised to learn you have?
I have a passion for understanding how things work, whether it’s a mechanical watch, a vintage car or a convention centre. I’m currently restoring a 1960s luxury car, documenting the process through livestreams and digital content that connected with a younger audience interested in restoration. As well as creating we web page https://jamesyounglimited.com/ dedicated to tracking down all 50 of the cars that were made by the coachbuilder James Young Limited I now use the car to “drive with purpose” raising funds for the Movember charity.
It’s all about systems and people. I enjoy figuring out how things work, bringing them back to life and creating meaningful connections along the way. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved opening and operating convention centres.
What was your first job?
My first job was at a local restaurant when I was about 11 years old. My main responsibilities included clearing ashtrays from tables with the bonus of cleaning the soft-serve ice cream machine at the end of service, before being promoted to the important task of setting up the 35mm projector for movie nights on a Wednesday night.
The couple who owned the restaurant became like adoptive parents to me and taught me the value of hard work, responsibility and community.
One of my strongest memories from that time is being fascinated by the owner’s new Suzuki motorbike parked outside the restaurant. I sat studying it, intrigued that it didn’t have a chain, and the owner kindly took the time to explain how it worked as it was one of the first drive shaft bikes in the market. To this day I still have a love of riding adventure bikes and that curiosity about how things function has never left me.
From there, I spent my teenage years working in a fish and chip shop and later with a fish wholesalers before joining the army. Looking back, these experiences underpinned my career and outlook on life – underscored by the philosophy that “hard work beats talent”.
What book or movie would you recommend and why?
Without hesitation, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I’ve watched it multiple times and seem to discover something new with every viewing. What I love most is how it begins with something so ordinary, a conversation in an English pub, and then it takes you on an extraordinary journey full of unexpected twists, humour and imagination. Just when you think you know where the story is headed, it surprises you again.
Beyond the comedy, it offers remarkably insightful observations about people, technology and the future. Many of the themes feel just as relevant today as when the story was first written, which is why I think it has stood the test of time. And, of course, it offers one of life’s great insights: the answer is 42. The real challenge is figuring out the question.
What’s the most unusual or memorable event you’ve ever seen take place, and what made it unforgettable?
It’s difficult to pick a single event, because what has inspired me most is the opportunity to be part of events that tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Whether the focus is health, sustainability, economics or innovation, these events bring together people who are genuinely working to make a difference.
What also makes them memorable is the transformation you see in the teams that deliver them. Major events challenge people to think differently, solve complex problems and achieve things they may not have thought possible. I often describe it as watching a team evolve in real time, gaining confidence, capability and belief in what they can accomplish together – I like to call it developing the “Power of We”.
One event that had a lasting impact on me was the first international conference I helped deliver in Durban. Focused on water management, it operated across multiple venues, including facilities in rural communities around the city. The logistics were incredibly complex, but it was the moment I caught the conference bug. Seeing a team come together to deliver something meaningful was incredibly rewarding.
Through time some of the most significant events I’ve been fortunate to be involved with include the World Airlines Conference and Exhibition, Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) and Non Aligned Movement (NAM) The World Oil and Gas Conference the World AIDS Conference at the height of the AIDS crisis the World Diabetes Conference. And SIBOS. Each demonstrated the unique power of events to bring people together, advance important conversations and create lasting impact.
For me, the most unforgettable events are those where people come together with a shared purpose and achieve something bigger than any could accomplish alone.
Thank you, Adam!
