Marketforce’s Brendon Lewis to lead Oasis Ball Committee as Marianne Stelmach steps down after three years as Chair and ten years in total

Marketforce Group Account Director Brendon Lewis (pictured) has succeeded ARN’s Marianne Stelmach as Chair of the Oasis Committee. Stelmach has stepped down after three years as Chair and ten years in total on the Committee.

With more than 800 people attending every year, the Oasis Ball is the biggest event for WA’s advertising and media community, and a major fund raising initiative for The Salvation Army’s Crossroads West program.

Lewis has had a long and successful career at Marketforce and is well-known within the industry. He said he was looking forward to working with the Committee to identify new opportunities to ensure the event’s ongoing success.

“Marketforce has always been a strong supporter of Oasis. Our chairman, John Driscoll, established the project twenty years ago and six people from the agency have chaired the Oasis Committee since then. I’m delighted to add my name to that list.”

Former Marketforce Group executives who have steered the organising committee include inaugural Ball Chair Evelyn Robinson, Leah Smith, Peter Rich, Simon teBrinke, Gavin Bain and Adam Marshall.

Stelmach leaves the Committee on a high, with the 2016 Oasis Ball raising $180,000 for Crossroads West. Besides the amount, the 2016 Ball itself has been widely praised as one of the best ever.

She paid tribute to the hard work of the Committee members and the Crossroads West staff.

“I would like to thank everyone for making my ten years on the Committee such an amazing time. I’ve loved the relationships I’ve made and will never forget the experiences. Special thanks to Yvonne Hunt, Steve Rowe, Jaime Forrest and Guy Rees from Crossroads West for letting me experience the world of extremely worthy work that they do. They really do change lives. It has been an honour getting to know them and the other Salvation Army Officers.

“I can’t believe it has been three years that I was Chair but time does fly when you’re having fun. I will miss dealing with everyone on this most important event for the industry and our charity.”