The Night Time Industries Association has appointed Paul McLeay as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Mick Gibb, who led the peak body for four years before departing to take up the CEO role at the Brewers Association of Australia.
McLeay is a familiar figure in the spirits industry. As CEO of the Australian Distillers Association, he led the national campaign that lifted the federal excise remission cap for craft distillers from $100,000 to $400,000. During his time at the ADA he also established the National Distilling Institute, delivering a $1.2 million industry education pathway funded by the Victorian government, and secured a further $20 million in Victorian government investment in the distilling sector.
He brings operator experience to the role as well. McLeay is co-founder of Sydney craft distillery Blackwattle Distilling Company, which led the formation of the Inner West Distillery Trail, uniting ten local distilleries to drive visitation and nightlife participation across the precinct. He also co-owns independent record label Lazy Thinking Records, which supports Sydney musicians and live performance.
Before moving into industry advocacy, McLeay spent eight years in the NSW Parliament, including as a minister and chair of the Public Accounts Committee, and a decade as a partner in a specialist workplace mediation and investigations practice.
NTIA Chair, Professor Jane Burns, said McLeay brought a rare combination of proven advocacy wins, commercial acumen and an understanding of government.
“He has grown a member-funded peak body and delivered real wins for small businesses at the federal level. Just as importantly, he lives and breathes the night time economy himself, as an operator, a venue owner and a supporter of live music. The Board is confident he will take NTIA into its next chapter,” Burns said.
McLeay said he was looking forward to representing NTIA’s members.
“NTIA has earned its place as Australia’s most credible voice for the night time economy, and I’m relishing the chance to build on that record,” McLeay said.
“I’m looking forward to working with members, government and the Board to grow the NTIA, deepen advocacy and back the industries that give our cities their life after dark.”
