
High-end hospitality operations across stadiums and major venues
Hospitality
Challenger Services Group delivers large-scale hospitality staffing services across stadiums and major hospitality venues where workforce demand changes rapidly and operational coordination is essential. The engagement supports event-driven hospitality environments, including games, concerts and public events.
Mobilising hospitality workforce for large-scale events
The client operates several major hospitality venues and stadium environments where workforce requirements fluctuate significantly depending on event schedules and attendance forecasts.
Staffing levels must adjust quickly to support games, concerts and large public events. Rosters are typically confirmed one week in advance but can change as late as 48 hours before an event, requiring rapid workforce adjustments.
The operational challenge involved:
The client required a partner capable of delivering reliable hospitality staffing services while maintaining strong on-site coordination across complex event environments.

Structured workforce planning and on-site leadership
Challenger implemented a structured workforce model designed specifically for large-scale event operations.
Workforce planning is aligned with our client’s rolling six-month event forecast. This allows Challenger to anticipate staffing requirements and prepare labour resources in advance for upcoming games, concerts and special events.
For major events, Challenger deploys a clearly defined leadership structure on site. This typically includes a site manager and multiple supervisors responsible for specific operational zones within the venue.
This structure enables:
Challenger’s workforce is directly employed, uniformed and trained, ensuring consistent standards across every event.
The company’s established labour pools and mobilisation systems also allow teams to be deployed rapidly when new venues or additional events are introduced.

Reliable delivery across large-scale hospitality events
Reliable delivery across large-scale hospitality events
Challenger successfully supports large-scale hospitality operations across multiple venues and stadium environments.
Key outcomes
The engagement demonstrates Challenger’s ability to deliver hospitality staffing services at scale, supporting complex event environments where workforce flexibility, operational coordination and reliable service delivery are essential.

Looking for reliable hospitality staffing services for venues, stadiums or large events? Our team is ready to support you.
Darlene Winston
Chief Financial Officer
Darlene proudly leads Challenger’s growth strategy, focusing on building strong client partnerships and expanding the organisation’s service capability.
As a senior executive with more than 25 years of international leadership experience, Darlene has worked across 13 industry sectors and three continents. Her background spans commercial leadership, risk and assurance, cultural transformation and organisational growth.
At Challenger, Darlene is responsible for driving long-term growth through strategic client partnerships and innovative service models. Her work is to ensure that Challenger’s capabilities are aligned with the evolving needs of our clients while ensuring operational delivery protects both client and company brands.
Darlene is also valued for her thought leadership in organisational culture and transformation. Outside of her executive role, she has lectured in international business and currently serves on two not-for-profit boards.
Allan Mitnovetsky
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Allan is Challenger’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and the principal legal advisor to the Board and Executive Leadership Team.
With more than 30 years of legal and management experience, Allan leads Challenger’s national legal and compliance functions and oversees the organisation’s regulatory frameworks and integrated management system.
Allan’s specialist areas include corporate governance, employment law, commercial law and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Challenger’s leadership team, he spent eight years as a partner at a leading law firm, advising clients on complex commercial and regulatory matters.
Allan has been with Challenger for more than a decade, during which he has played a key role in strengthening the governance and compliance frameworks that support the company’s growth as a national service provider. His leadership approach ensures our clients can rely on strong regulatory oversight and disciplined operational governance.
Param Lally
Chief Financial Officer
Param is Challenger’s Chief Financial Officer, and is responsible for financial governance, planning and performance across our organisation.
As a career finance professional with more than 30 years of experience, Param brings meaningful expertise in financial strategy, operational efficiency and business transformation to our company. His background includes senior roles with major service organisations.
Param oversees financial planning and analysis, payroll, procurement, taxation, treasury management and financial systems within Challenger. His role focuses on strengthening financial performance while supporting sustainable business growth.
Param is skilled in analytical and commercial outcomes, helping leadership teams make informed strategic decisions. He also plays an important role in building high-performing finance teams and strengthening the financial systems that support every aspect of Challenger’s national operations.
Sharne Brennan
Chief People Officer
Sharne leads Challenger’s people, culture and workforce strategy across Australia.
A commercially focused HR executive, Sharne has extensive experience working within complex multi-site service organisations in sectors that include facilities services, hospitality, aged care, disability services and industrial operations. Her career has focused on building organisational strength in environments where workforce performance is critical to service delivery.
At Challenger, Sharne oversees workforce planning, leadership development, employee relations and organisational capability across the business. She works closely with the executive team to ensure people strategy supports on-the-ground operational performance and long-term growth.
Through Sharne’s pragmatic and practical leadership style, she creates environments where employees can confidently develop their skills, contribute effectively and deliver consistent outcomes for clients.
Group General Manager
Thomas oversees operational performance across Challenger, ensuring service delivery remains consistent, efficient and aligned with client expectations.
With more than 25 years of experience across hospitality, food services and facilities operations, Thomas is highly experienced in managing complex service environments across Australia and globally. Before joining Challenger, he held senior operational roles within major hospitality organisations.
Thomas works closely with operations teams and client stakeholders to manage large service contracts and ensure smooth mobilisation and long-term account management. His leadership approach focuses on maintaining high standards of service delivery while continuously improving operational performance.
One of Thomas’ key strengths is his collaborative leadership style. He builds strong working relationships with clients, suppliers and operational teams. His experience across large-scale operations ensures Challenger can deliver reliable service outcomes in complex and high-demand environments.
Danny Cohen
Chief Executive Officer
Danny leads the organisation’s strategy, performance and culture to deliver consistent outcomes for our clients nationwide.
Danny brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across both large Tier 1 contractors and growing service organisations. His career includes senior roles with organisations such as Downer Group, Ventia and Spotless, along with experience scaling businesses across multiple sectors, including emerging technology environments.
At Challenger, Danny is dedicated to strengthening the company’s position as a trusted integrated services partner delivering security, cleaning and hospitality services to major organisations across Australia.
He works closely with clients, employees and partners to ensure Challenger continues to evolve as industry needs change.
Danny is known for his people-first leadership approach, building accountable teams that translate strategy into consistent operational performance.