The annual conference for the Professional Conference Organisers Association (PCOA), taking place at Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane from Sunday, is set to be the association’s largest ever meeting.
It is a great honour to be writing to you today as the new CEO of ICC Sydney, having played a role in shaping the business and its operations as General Manager over the last decade.
I’m delighted to also share that Beverley Parker has been appointed as Deputy CEO and will retain her position as Director of Business Development. ICC Sydney’s experienced executive team, who you will all be familiar with, remains in place and is here to support your continued event success.
Diversity and inclusion aren’t just policies—they are key to unlocking growth, innovation, and engagement in today’s business and events landscapes. For event managers, PCOs, and senior leaders, embracing diversity can elevate both the success of your business events and the overall performance of your organisation. But how do you go beyond simply paying lip service to diversity and fully leverage its power?
In this September/October edition of Meeting Newz we focus on Rotorua and Bay of Plenty regions and we learn more about Taupo and Whanganui.
We also bring you a preview of the Business Events Expo 24 being held at Viaduct Event Centre in Auckland on 19 November and we have a review of the recent Eventing the Future conference.
ICC Sydney’s culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in its Accessible and Inclusive Events Guide, where event organisers can find these three key tips, and much more to ensure inclusivity for all at events.
In a further pledge to operating in an environmentally conscious way, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has launched their 5-year Sustainability Strategy.
The strategy provides a structured and staged approach to GCCEC’s dedication to minimising environmental impact. The organisation is actively contributing to the global effort by aligning to UN Sustainable Development Goals as guiding principles for its initiatives.
Destination NSW this week launched a fresh approach to growing the business events sector in regional NSW at the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) in Melbourne, with new messaging aligned to its ‘Feel New’ visitor brand. Showcasing immersive visitor experiences in regional NSW, the new ‘Corporate events that feel anything but’ positioning presents an engaging alternative to the traditional business event experience.
In this January/February edition we learn a bit more about Taranaki and discover Tropical North Queensland… As always, we keep you informed with the latest industry news, events, social scene and people on the move. And of course we bring you the latest happenings from our key partners BEIA, NZEA and PCOA.
Brisbane’s yet-to-launch $3.6 billion development will host the Professional Conference Organisers Association (PCOA) conference next year. The annual gathering is expected to attract 400 conference organisers in 2024.
The opening of Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf has been pushed out a few more months. The $3.6 billion waterfront development is now expected to open in August. The announcement came just before Christmas after the Destination Brisbane Consortium behind the project settled Queensland Supreme Court proceedings and an adjudication application lodged with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, both initiated by the development’s builder Multiplex.