Over the coming months the PCO Association will continue to profile one of the association’s Certified Event Companies (CEC) by way of a Q & A.
In this interview Mike Pickford from ASN Events Pty Ltd answers our questions on what it means to be a Certified Event Company (CEC) with the PCO Association.
ASN Events used to be Australian Science Network, a company initially formed to host a public science awareness exhibition. The success of that event resulted in sponsors and participants asking us to manage their conferences. Our empathy with and understanding of the bio-scientific community especially has meant the company has established a strong profile as a successful manager of association conferences and congresses. In 2016 the Directors established a corporate division, Nowadays, to deal with an increasing number of firms looking for the same care and understanding we have demonstrated to them as sponsors of association conferences.
Q: How many years have you been trading as an Event Management Company?
A: 28 years
Q: What does being a Certified Event Company (CEC) mean to your business?
A: Being a certified event company adds to ASN Events credibility in the market place as an experienced, successful and transparent organisation.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced when applying for your CEC?
A: The application and renewal processes are not arduous and we did not have any trouble completing the application process. It was straightforward for us to find referees and the documented evidence required to support our application.
Q: Name your three main reasons why an Event Company should be accredited
A: 1. Credibility amongst our peers
2. Credibility amongst institutional clients
3. Credibility amongst our staff
Accreditation provides both clients and industry with an assurance that the event management business they are or could be dealing with is committed to the highest quality event management business practices, consistency and reliability in the delivery of services, professional standards and dedication to continuous improvement.
The PCO Association CEC Program is independently audited.
For a company to be awarded CEC accreditation it must have a minimum of one Certified Event Manager (CEM) employed in the business and additionally satisfy criteria that is audited by an independent certified practicing (CPA) accountant.
Accreditation is valid for a period of three years, after which time the business needs to apply again to maintain their accreditation.
For more information on the PCO Association accreditation program click here