Elsewhere, Crown CEO Ciaran Carruthers capped off a good weekend (in which much of his main ASX-listed rival’s executive suite collectively resigned).
Others to fill out the structure included private equiteer Ben Gray with Labor parliamentarian wife Luba Grigorovitch, Myer supremo Olivia Wirth with husband (and powerful KPMG operative) Paul Howes, legendary retailer Mark McInnes, ex-Labor minister Phil Dalidakis, Linfox executive Ari Suss, consultant Luke Sayers, multiple tennis Grand Slam winner Dylan Alcott, Australian Open boss Craig Tilley, and Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
Rounding out the inevitable showbiz contingent was actor Jeremy Piven (famous for playing Ari in Entourage) alongside home-grown stars such as Eric Bana and Anthony Callea.
Presiding over the whole thing was an effervescent Pakula, in a chairman’s suite so enlarged some took to calling it “Pakula’s Paddock”. While sports and major events minister, the now-chairman secured a deal to keep the Grand Prix at Albert Park until 2035. He (and Grand Prix CEO Travis Auld) entertained VECCI chief Paul Guerra alongside Victoria’s Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, Minister for Fun* Steve Dimopoulos (chatting to wine club founder Grant Ashton), Treasurer Tim Pallas, and inner-Sydney type (and federal Environment Minister) Tanya Plibersek, whose attendance is as good a sign as any of the Grand Prix’s broadening appeal. After all: you would never see her at the (horse) races.