EEAA 2019 Awards for Excellence

MEDIA RELEASE – The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia’s (EEAA) annual Awards for Excellence has honoured the industry’s highest achievers at its gala dinner held at Myer Mural Hall Melbourne.

Sixty finalists were presented across 15 categories with winners named for outstanding shows, venues, suppliers, teams and individuals, with special tributes paid to its rising stars and unsung heroes. One winner, was also inducted to the Hall of Fame and a President’s Award was also presented.

There were five Highly Commended finalists including two commendations for the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award.

Three hundred people including 21 sponsor companies attended the event which was hosted by Jane Hutcheon, former ABC journalist and presenter.

Felicity Zadro, Managing Director from Zadro Agency was named the Unsung Hero for her contribution to the events industry over the last two decades.

Aiden Hippensteel, Event Operations Floor Manager from ICC Sydney was awarded the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Awardfor his outstanding organisation and leadership skills. His volunteer work with the Rural Fire Service was also commended.

Leighton Wood, Chief Operating Officer from Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre received the Trevor Riddell President’s Award for his outstanding contribution to the EEAA Board and the Association’s sustainability project. He has initiative with passion, leadership and expertise.

Seven nominations were received for the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award:  Kay Badakhsh from HostCo, Laura Blagys from Reed Exhibitions Australia, Lakisha Di Valentino from Diversified Communications, Aiden Hippensteel from ICC Sydney, Katie Ray from AV 24/7, Nikki Witman from Talk2 Media and Events and Claudene Yousif from Reed Exhibitions Australia – both Nikki Whitman and Lakisha Di Valentino received commendations.

“We are immensely grateful for the partnership with Tourism Australia for the UFI Scholarship and Ungerboeck Software International who continue to support this important initiative which recognises emerging leaders,” Ms DiMascio said.

“Of all the areas that I have worked on, I am most proud of what we have done to recognise and encourage the careers of young people and the emerging leaders.” She said.

EEAA President, Spiro Anemogiannis presented the Trevor Riddell President’s Award to Leighton Wood, Chief Operating Officer at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and EEAA Vice President for his outstanding contribution to the EEAA Board and the Association.

“Leighton joined the Board this year and has taken a leadership role in setting the agenda to build a more environmentally sustainable industry. He has brought the leadership work of his own organisation and personal passion to drive the EEAA’s sustainability framework,” Mr Anemogiannis said.

Chair of Judges, John Trevillian AM thanked the 29 judges, nine of whom were international which ensured the judging standard was informed by a global perspective.

“Each category was judged by three independent judges. We thank them all for their expertise and commitment to the industry.

“I continue to be impressed with the calibre of talent that is developing in this industry and commend all the entrants along with the EEAA for running this program,” Mr Trevillian said.

Exhibit Systems – Cisco at Cisco Live! 2019 entered the Hall of Fame with their third consecutive win for Best Custom Stand. The innovative stand design concept and functionality has been adopted globally by Cisco for the technology leader’s showcase events.

Reed Exhibitions Australia won this year’s Best Show Award for PAX Australia 2018, a three-day festival, curated and delivered by ‘gamers’ for the global interactive gaming community.

The Best Corporate Citizenship Award was won by the ICC Sydney for their CSR initiatives and Legacy Program. Adopting several United Nations “Sustainable Development Goals”, the ICC Sydney Legacy program gives clients the opportunity to contribute to the city’s cultural capital and advance the social sustainability objective of their events.

The Most Creative Innovation in Event “Experience” Delivery was awarded to Salesforce for the Salesforce World Tour 2019. This event provides business solutions and future thinking for audiences, coupled with bespoke content and the best Australian talent to spread the message of diversity, quality and inclusion.

Kai Hattendorf, CEO of the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry (UFI) and a member of the judging panel greeted the room from the UFI Headquarters in Paris, congratulating all the winners and finalists.

Special thanks and recognition were given by the EEAA President, Spiro Anemogiannis and the CEO of UFI, Kai Hattendorf to Joyce DiMascio, EEAA Chief Executive, who will be leaving from her role at the EEAA in late December after almost 9 years at the helm. There was a standing ovation for Joyce DiMascio as she was honoured for the great contribution the Association.

TMC Productions produced the onscreen content and Harry the hirer was the staging and AV producer. Info Salons Group was the registration partner. The EEAA thanked all their major partners who helped produce the Awards for Excellence event.

THE 2019 EEAA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS WERE:

BEST CONSUMER SHOW over 10,000m2
Reed Exhibitions Australia – PAX Australia 2018

BEST TRADE SHOW over 10,000m2
Talk2 Media & Events – Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event
Highly Commended: Exhibitions and Trade Fairs – AUSPACK 2019

BEST ASSOCIATION EVENT
Deutsche Messe and AFAC – AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ

MOST OUTSTANDING MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Exhibitions and Trade Fairs – 2019 National 4×4 Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo

BEST SUPPLIER – SERVICES OR PRODUCTS
Sprintr by AV1
Highly Commended: Agility Fairs & Events

BEST INNOVATION IN EVENT TECH
Harry the hirer – Harrys Concierge

BEST NEW PRODUCT OR SERVICE
Decorative Events & Exhibitions – Premium Suites
Highly Commended: AFI Branding – Dynamic Lightbox

BEST CUSTOM STAND
Exhibit Systems – Cisco at Cisco Live! 2019 – (Hall of Fame)

MOST CREATIVE INNOVATION IN EVENT “EXPERIENCE” DELIVERY
Salesforce – Salesforce World Tour 2019

RICHARD GEDDES YOUNG ACHIEVER
Aiden Hippensteel from ICC Sydney
Highly Commended: Lakisha Di Valentino from Diversified Communications Australia
Highly Commended: Nikki Witman from Talk2 Media & Events

BEST TRADE SHOW under 10,000m2
Reed Exhibitions Australia – National Manufacturing Week 2019

BEST CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
ICC Sydney – CSR initiatives and Legacy Program

UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Felicity Zadro

BEST VENUE TEAM
ICC Sydney – SIBOS 2018

BEST SUPPLIER TEAM – EVENT
ExpoNet – 17th SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit

SHOW OF THE YEAR
Reed Exhibitions Australia – PAX Australia 2018

TREVOR RIDDELL PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Leighton Wood – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Vice President of the EEAA Board

WE THANK OUR 2019 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE PARTNERS

AWARDS MAJOR PARTNER
FABframe

VENUE PARTNER
Myer Mural Hall

REGISTRATION PARTNER
Info Salons Group

RICHARD GEDDES YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD SCHOLARSHIP PARTNER
Tourism Australia

RICHARD GEDDES YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD PARTNER
Ungerboeck Software International

UNSUNG HERO OF THE INDUSTRY AWARD PARTNER
Quest Apartment Hotels

BEST SHOW AWARD PARTNER
Agility Fairs & Events

AWARDS MC PARTNER
ICC Sydney

ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER
Sydney Showground

WELCOME RECEPTION PARTNER
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

AWARDS PARTNER
Skills IQ

AWARDS PARTNER
Gaming Technologies Association

AWARDS PARTNER
Expo Direct

OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Cloud Print Group
Event Crew Australia
Harry the Hirer
Homepix Photography
HostCo
Info Salons Group
TMC Productions
Royale Limousines