CARISSA HARRIS
Associate Principal
Carissa is an Associate Principal with more than 20 years’ experience delivering major events. As a purpose driven leader, she has the proven results to engage and influence, develop and implement strategic frameworks and motivationally lead teams. Specialising in large scale event and venue projects, Carissa thrives in innovative environments where people are empowered to challenge boundaries and redesign processes.
During her time at MI Carissa has led various risk, readiness and contingency planning projects for international sporting events including the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia and New Zealand and the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Sydney 2022.
Carissa was most recently employed by Cricket Australia for over 9 years leading the national event delivery team. Here she planned and delivered 60 days of Men’s and Women’s International Cricket in Australia annually, the largest being the Boxing Day Test. This was a multi-disciplinary operations team, supporting innovative and creative approaches to engage more fans. As part of this role, Carissa developed a strategic approach and critical path planning in conjunction with international venues across Australia.
Prior to Cricket, Carissa was a core member of the Venue Development team for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, delivering the departmental operational readiness program - integrating existing venue staff, venue teams, utility providers, contractors, key stakeholders and the Games C3 structure to ensure the effective implementation of LOCOG’s venues program.
Carissa has also held various senior positions at several international sporting events including the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, 2006 Asian Games, Australian F1 Grand Prix, Red Bull Air Race and 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Carissa is the current Chair of Regional Sport Victoria and lives on the idyllic Bellarine Peninsula with her young son, enjoying exploring beaches and being active in her community.