The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has wrapped up its end-of-year program focusing on rebuilding and reconnecting the industry.
The events program, including the EEAA annual general meeting, CEO Forum and Awards for Excellence were attended by more 150 industry representatives, in-person at ICC Sydney and virtually yesterday.
EEAA chief executive Claudia Sagripanti said the events were “an important step for the industry, signifying the return of in-person events, as we announced our newly elected board members, undertook a high-level planning session with senior industry representatives and celebrated with the award winners for 2020″.
“Commencing with the EEAA annual general meeting, we named the new EEAA executive committee who will be actively involved in implementing the rebuild strategy for the exhibitions and business events industry in 2021 and beyond, as well as the continued roll out of the Association’s marketing activity and programs.”
Two new members were elected to join the EEAA board: Libbie Ray, director of Connected Event Group; and Elissa Duke from Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The result brings greater gender balance to the EEAA board, adding two new female representatives to the 13-person executive committee.
Immediately following the AGM, the CEO Forum – attended by international guest commentators and senior leaders from the industry – involved a strategic look at the global and local issues and structural changes across all sectors of the industry.
“We invited the top minds into the room with CEOs of venues, suppliers and organisers involved in open discussion,” Sagripanti said.
“The program included round table discussions to ensure a two-way dialogue. The feedback is being incorporated into the EEAA strategy for 2021 and beyond.”
The event series was completed with a celebration of the rising stars and unsung heroes of the industry, followed by an opportunity for the association’s members to network face-to-face for the first time since March this year.
Alysia McAuliffe from Reed Exhibitions Australia was named the winner of the Ungerboeck Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award; and the joint winners for the industry Unsung Hero Award were Helen Mantellato from ICC Sydney, and Libbie Ray and Juston Prisuda from Event Connected Group.
All three events were operated under the ICC Sydney EventSafe Operating Guide, a set of operating principles enabling the safe running of events in an environment transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
