ENEWS – Young Stars Sustainability Forum, International Women’s Day Breakfast, State and Federal advocacy and more

By Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia , 11 February, 2019

Welcome to first E-News for 2019. It’s been a busy start to the year and from my initial observations it’s going to be a positive year for our Members.

With the start of another year, we ask our Members to promptly renew their Membership. Renewal notices are currently being issued. If your turnover has increased, you may need to advise us so that we adjust your membership rate.

The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) has just released its Global Exhibition Barometer which paints a strong picture for the industry around the world and also in our region. Among the biggest issues concerning the global industry are the state of the national economy and competition from other marketing channels. The industry is also acutely aware of the need to incorporate “entertainment” as a means of engaging younger audiences. I encourage you to take an interest in UFI’s work and its various products – they are extremely useful in your business planning. The next UFI Asia-Pacific Conference is in Tokyo, this is a most valuable opportunity to establish global connections for your business. For suppliers looking to export, it is an excellent forum for networking with decision-makers.

EEAA has been very active representing the industry’s wish-list to MPs in the Federal Parliament – it was pleasing to see the inclusion of these priorities in the draft 2020 Beyond Tourism Strategy released by Federal Minister Simon Birmingham last week. In the coming weeks, we’ll be knocking on Labor’s doors again calling for further investment in the business events sector. I’ll be joining Shadow Minister, Anthony Albanese on stage at the Labor Friends of Tourism meeting in Canberra in the coming weeks.

Around the country, there is continued investment in events infrastructure. In Brisbane this week, I had the opportunity to provide The Star Entertainment Group with feedback on the massive Queens Wharf Development and earlier in the month I appeared before the Gateway Review Committee assessing the merits of further improvements to Sydney Showground and the Sydney Olympic Park precinct.

Our commitment to boosting the industry’s dedication to reducing waste at events continues. The work of the Environmental Sustainability Working Group will be road-tested with our younger Members at two events in Sydney and Melbourne later this month. There’s no going back for the EEAA and our Board is committed to delivering a charter for the industry. A big thanks to the Members that are leading this work. “Climate Change” has been felt acutely over the summer – floods, fire and the hottest days ever recorded. We have a collective responsibility to act to mitigate its impacts and we have a responsibility to reduce waste and shift towards clean energy.

We have a big program of events in Melbourne in 2019 – with our Global Exhibitions Day Program including our Conference, Leaders Forum and Dinner being hosted there on 5 and 6 June. So, if you’d like to partner with us as venue or supplier, please contact us.

The E-News has lots of other news. I know it’s long – but do scroll through so that you don’t miss valuable updates on what we are doing for our Members.

Please populate the EEAA Events Calendar – this is a critical marketing tool for our industry. Please go online and input your event details. And while you are there refresh your Member profile page – eeaa.com.au is your platform as well as ours.

And we’re very excited to be welcoming some fantastic new Members to our community from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Details will be announced in the next E-News.

Finally, we farewell one of the business events industry’s great advocates Paul Beeson who has retired as CEO of the Perth Convention Bureau.

And a big congratulations to Bob O’Keeffe and Paul Constantinou on their Australia Day Honours – both were awarded Members of the Order (AM).

It’s great to be back at our office in sunny Chatswood – Claudia, Gretel and I are here to assist you so please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Joyce DiMascio

Chief Executive

IN THIS ISSUE

Key event dates for 2019
Events: Come and have your say on our draft Sustainability Framework – 25 and 26 February
Events: Prof Clara Chow joins us for International Women’s Day Breakfast – 7 March
Advocacy: EEAA’s voice is heard in Beyond Tourism 2020 Steering Committee Draft Report
Advocacy: Important policy submissions and representation for Members
Advocacy: EEAA to represent business events at Labor Friends of Tourism
Education and Training: Have your say about training packages
Request for Proposals: Calling Melbourne venues to host EEAA 2019 Leaders Forum and Conference
Member News: EEAA Treasurer, Bob O’Keeffe AM and Quest’s Paul Constantinou AM receive Australia Day Honours
Queensland: EEAA visits Brisbane for Queens Wharf briefing
Marketing and Member Services: Last chance to update the 2019 calendar with your events
Events: Join the Australia delegation at UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in Tokyo – March 2019 and UFI’s next generation scholarship entries open.
Research
research: EEAA Market Monitor report is now available: keep a finger on the industry’s pulse
Member News
Paul Beeson announces resignation as CEO of Perth Convention Bureau after 8 years
Upcoming industry event: AIME 2019
Jobs Portal