EEAA ENews: $12 million federal funding boost for business events | Save the date: Leaders Forum and Conference 6-7 June

By Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia , 23 March, 2018

By now I hope you have all picked up the news of the $12M funding boost for business events announced by Federal Tourism Trade and Investment Minister, Steven Ciobo. We thank the Minister for his commitment to our sector and for making this significant announcement. Last week, our President and I met with Tourism Australia’s Managing Director John O’Sullivan and Penny Lion to discuss the opportunity. We were informed that the fund was “agnostic” and open to all types of business events provided they met the criteria and could demonstrate ROI in international visitation and spending. So check out the criteria and if you qualify with your “new to Australia” event, I urge you to apply. Also, check out the Prospectus.

We’re pleased to confirm that on June 6 and 7 in Sydney we’ll be shining a big light on our sector when we celebrate Global Exhibitions Day 2018. Our industry will be invited to come together for the Leaders Forum, Global Exhibitions Day and Leaders Forum Dinner and also the 2018 EEAA Conference.

These events will wrap up with our Annual General Meeting and associated elections. Stay tuned for details – but please mark these important dates in your diaries – they will be outstanding occasions for peer-to-peer learning and networking.

The events line-up represents a major change for the Association as we will no longer have the conference at the end of the year. In December, our celebrations will be entirely focussed on the Awards for Excellence. The Awards gala dinner will be held in the first week of December – a firm date will be announced soon.

Research and insights are important to the Association and Members and so we urge you to be part of the EEAA Market Monitor. In the next few days, our new international research company, Explori will be writing to Members seeking your input to our major research project for the year. Please make it a priority to complete the survey. The results will be shared at our Leaders Forum in June.

We continue to promote our new traineeship program and this week, for the first time, we met with 100 careers advisors at the TAFE NSW Careers Advisor Day on 22 March. This is another “first” for the EEAA.  We were very pleased to be able to speak to such an influential group of people about encouraging young people to seek careers in the business events sector.

We are also very pleased that EEAA Members are taking up our new Traineeship Program – among them are AV24/7 and Microhire. We commend the Members who are getting involved in this highly incentivised initiative – we implore others to follow in their footsteps. Attracting young people to our sector is an important strategy to help mitigate the skills and labour shortage in our industry. Please get behind it and employ a trainee.

The EEAA is in Brisbane next month for our annual Board visit and Member and Stakeholder forum. Stay tuned for details and mark 30 April in your calendars.

The UFI Next Generation Leader Grant winners have been announced. I was honoured to be on the international jury along with UFI President Corrado Peraboni and CEO Kai Hattendorf and others.This is a prestigious grant that only had one Australian entry. The five winners came from: UK, Brazil, US and Russia. These grant winners will have a marvelous opportunity to work on a joint project and then present their ideas on the world stage at the UFI Global Congress in St Petersburg, Russia. What an opportunity!

This week, the Board has expelled a Member from the Association for repeated bad conduct. We remind Members of the EEAA Code of Ethics by which all Members are required to abide. As an Association we need to ensure that businesses and individuals in our sector operate fairly and ethically and with a high level of professionalism at all times. Any behaviour that risks discrediting the industry will not be tolerated by the Association or the Board.

And finally, may I ask you to remain active in your Association and assist us by paying your Membership fees promptly.

A few final reminders – don’t forget to get in touch if we can assist you in any way. Make sure your events are up-to-date on our website, eeaa.com.au and finally please lock in our key event dates in your diaries.

Joyce DiMascio,
Chief Executive

IN THIS ISSUE

  • Funding boost for business events
  • Save the date: June 6 and 7 Leaders Forum and Conference to mark Global Exhibitions Day
  • Brisbane: April 30 EEAA Board Visit and Industry Briefing
  • Safety Update: Marsh Risk and Safety Accreditation update
  • EEAA and TAFE NSW target careers advisors
  • Training: Help your staff gain a qualification in exhibitions and events
  • New Member: EEAA welcomes Destination NSW
  • Marketing: Have you entered the Mumbrella Awards? Entries close midnight tonight. • International Association News
  • Mentoring: UFI announces 2018 UFI Next Generation Leadership Grant
  • UFI Awards: The 2018 Operations & Services Award
  • SISO CEO Summit: Where organisers meet
  • Research: Exhibitions continue to thrive
  • Finance Support: Federal Government program for international expansion
  • Update: Federal Government employment visas
  • Member News
  • Job Portal
  • Resources

Read the full ENews here

 

Source: EEAA