Who’s Who in 2022, Business: Paul Garcia

Paul Garcia heads the team behind one of Moreton Bay Region’s biggest and most historic attractions – continuing a passion for festivals going back almost 30 years.

Mr Garcia is chair of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, near Caboolture, which stages the huge two-day Abbey Medieval Festival.

Tens of thousands of visitors step back in time soaking up the colour and pageantry of the Middle Ages with displays of jousting, musical performances, costume and food.

The museum has vast collections of hugely-significant artifacts spanning around 500,000 years, while also running education and conservation programs.

Mr Garcia has been chair for approaching five years, but has also been director of the Abbey Museum Living Project since March 2012 and festival VIP Experience Co-ordinator since April 2017.

American-born Mr Garcia brought considerable experience in such organisations and events when joining the Abbey team more than 15 years ago.

He was chairman of a community organisation helping 80,000 residents start a neighbourhood festival in the Sunset District of San Francisco, in 1994, which is still being held today.

Mr Garcia has also been a volunteer co-ordinator at the Byron Bay Blues Festival for nearly 14 years, helping manage more than 600 supporters at one of the country’s biggest music events.

He has also been a board member of Queensland Social Enterprise Council since November 2018.

About Paul Garcia

Paul Garcia grew up on the United States’ west coast in San Francisco and for 34 years worked with a multi-national digital transformation company around the world.

He was also chairman of the Sunset District Neighbourhood Coalition for five years where, according to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Garcia helped a team of volunteers build a “greater sense of community” and “at risk” youth.

As soon as he arrived in Australia, Mr Garcia joined the Abbey organisation as a festival volunteer.

He has also been a committee member with Bribie Island Chamber of Commerce and is now a committee member with the Greater Caboolture Chamber of Commerce.

For the past three years Mr Garcia has been Relationship Manager for CCIQ (Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland).

As such he works with more than 110 Queensland Chambers of Commerce as well as councils, tourism organisations and the State Government.