The appointment was confirmed during the 101st IAVM VenueConnect Annual Conference and Trade Show in Indianapolis, United States, bringing Rwanda’s growing venue management industry into the spotlight on the global stage.

The IAVM represents venue professionals working across stadiums, arenas and convention centres worldwide, with more than 8,000 venue professionals represented through the association.

Hedderwick’s election is being viewed as a significant milestone for Rwanda and Africa as the continent’s sports and entertainment infrastructure continues to expand.

The new role will place the QAVS chief at the centre of global discussions on stadium management, innovation, professional development and industry standards.

“This is bigger than an individual appointment. It gives us an opportunity to connect Rwanda and Africa’s growing venue industry with global expertise, certification and mentorship,” Hedderwick said.

“Our ambition is to develop world-class venues alongside world-class African professionals to manage them. Through our partnership with IAVM, we want to expand education, certification and mentorship programmes in Rwanda and across the region.”

Hedderwick’s appointment came alongside another milestone for Rwanda’s venue management sector, with Amahoro Stadium Venue Manager Aaron Gaga earning the Certified Venue Professional (CVP) designation at the same conference.

The CVP is a professional certification for venue management professionals and marks another step in the development of internationally recognised venue management expertise in Rwanda.

Gaga joined QAVS as a junior staff member and has progressed through the organisation to become Venue Manager at Amahoro Stadium.

“I joined QAVS as a junior staff member and have grown through the ranks. This certification is a testament to passion, dedication and a commitment to excellence,” Gaga said.

“More importantly, it reflects the journey we are on as a company and as a country—building world-class venue management expertise as Rwanda positions itself as a regional hub for sports and entertainment.”

QAVS said the two achievements reinforce its focus on professional development and succession planning as Rwanda seeks to strengthen its position as a destination for major sports, entertainment and business events.

The company manages several of Rwanda’s flagship sports and entertainment facilities within Kigali Sports City, including BK Arena, Amahoro Stadium and Zaria Court.

According to QAVS, the precinct represents more than $300 million in government investment and has attracted more than $30 million in private investment. The facilities have hosted more than 600 events over the past six years and generated more than $15 million in sponsorship value.

The company affirmed that its venue management work supports Rwanda’s broader ambitions to grow the sports and tourism economy, create employment opportunities and strengthen local professional skills.

Building on the two achievements, QAVS and IAVM are expected to explore opportunities to strengthen mentorship, professional certification and capacity-building for venue managers in Rwanda.

The initiatives could eventually be extended across East Africa and other parts of the continent, as demand for skilled venue professionals grows alongside investment in sports and entertainment infrastructure.