With over 29 years of hands-on experience in the event services industry, Thushan Rajapaksa serves as Vice President of Business Development for Allied Universal Event Services, leading strategy, guest experience, and client partnerships across the Western U.S. and beyond. Starting his career at 18, Thushan rose through every operational and leadership role—giving him a unique, ground-up understanding of what it takes to deliver at the highest level.
Today, he is regarded as one of the industry’s leading experts in large-scale event security & staffing deployments, venue operations, red team audits, risk mitigation, consulting, technology integration, and a tactical strategist. His leadership has helped secure, build, and deliver premier services for major stadiums, arenas, convention centers, festivals, and national events.
Highlights of his portfolio include crowd management for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, UFC, WWE, NCAA, F1, major award shows, Coachella, Stagecoach, and thousands of concerts and conventions nationwide.
Thushan is recognized for his client-first approach, disciplined execution, and ability to establish trusted, long-term partnerships with both public agencies and private venue operators. He collaborates closely with venue executives, municipalities, and corporate leadership teams to ensure every engagement exceeds expectations—from strategy and staffing to safety and fan experience.
In addition to his leadership at AUES, Thushan remains actively engaged in the industry ecosystem, participating in key associations like IAVM, IAEE, NCS4, Pollstar Live, VenuesNow, NACDA/CEFMA, SMA, IIFX, and WFA—helping shape, influence, and elevate best practices across the venue and live event landscape.
Thushan stays hands-on with branch offices, client portfolios, and new business development. His passion lies in building tailored, scalable solutions that not only protect people and solve complex problems but also elevate experiences.