Sunday 31 October marked the final night of the Australian Event Awards 12-day celebration of the best events and most innovative achievements in Australia’s Events Industry since 1 July 2020.
Despite the effects of Covid-19, the Event Awards persevered with an online ceremony format in 2021 that served to highlight the achievements and resilience of individuals and organisations in the Industry. Each evening between 20 – 31 October, short video broadcasts were published on the Event Awards YouTube channel which announced the National Finalists and Winner of one Awards Category.
Last night, the results of the last two Awards’ categories were revealed. Rizer took home Event Management Organisation of the Year, with the judges commenting “Rizer seems to have maintained the same high-end delivery with their virtual projects as with live events which is no easy feat!”
The final category of 2021 named EY Secrets of the Archibald (Jack Morton Australia) as Australian Event of the Year, the event being heralded as being better than the real thing – One client even stated: “It was one of the best virtual events I have attended, and to be honest, it was a better art experience.”
Other Best Event National Winners include Adelaide Fringe 2021, Gibb Challenge 2021 (Karunjie Event Management Pty Ltd), Igniting our Future Conference 2021 (Peanut Productions) and Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021 (Northern Territory Major Events Company) who not only walked away with two trophies but also as National finalists in two other Best Event Categories.
The Achievement categories saw ORACLE – LIQUID PTY LTD, Big Picture, The Electric Canvas, EventsAIR and Evise and Pyrus all take home trophies for their innovations, services, or technology over the past 12 months.
Just under 100 events and organisations were crowned as Finalists in 2021, including but certainly not limited to, Ozwater’21 (Australian Water Association), WA Day Festival 2021 (LUX Events), The Hendrick’s Most Unusual Balloon Bar 2020 (Havas Blvd), Wine Tasting Fest 2020 (Kenvale College of Hospitality, Cookery & Events), Imagination for Australian Wine CONNECT, We are Phoenix and The Shift.
“Judging the Event Awards in 2021 was an absolute pleasure. To be able to see the wide range of events and achievements that have been produced during such a difficult year made it clear to me that the events industry will come out the other side of this stronger and more capable.” Brenda LaPorte, Co-Chair of the Judging Panel.
The video broadcasts, which are still available on the Event Awards YouTube channel, allowed the Awards to spend 12 days celebrating the accomplishments of the 2021 Finalists and Winners.
Whilst the Awards were excited to be able to highlight the Industry at all in 2021, Co-Chair of the Judging Panel, Peter Rix, last night commented that “2022 is not far away and we hope to see your achievements next year in a freer and more audience intensive world. May we celebrate with every one of you in person at a live event ceremony in 2022.”
Full list of Finalists and Winners for 2021
AUSTRALIAN EVENT AWARDS NATIONAL WINNERS 2021
Best Live or Hybrid Public Event
Adelaide Fringe 2021, South Australia
Best Virtual Public Event
University of Tasmania Virtual Open Day 2020, Spaces Interactive
Best Live or Hybrid Congress, Conference or Exhibition
Brisbane Truck Show 2021, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Queensland
Best Virtual Congress, Conference or Exhibition
Igniting our Future Conference 2021, Peanut Productions
Best Live or Hybrid Brand Event
DoorDash Delivers for the State of Origin I, II, & III 2021, MKTG Sports + Entertainment, New South Wales & Queensland
Best Virtual Brand Event
Salesforce Live Series 2020/2021, The Company We Keep
Best Live or Hybrid Corporate Event
Class of 2020: Celebrate Together, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices Annual Sales and Training Meeting 2021, Eventful Meetings and Events
Best Live or Hybrid Small Event
Airwaves – The Drive-In Music Festival 2020, Buskers by the Creek Inc, Queensland
Best Virtual Small Event
EY Secrets of the Archibald 2020, Jack Morton Australia
Best Charity or Cause-Related Event
Gibb Challenge 2021, Karunjie Event Management Pty Ltd, Western Australia
Coates Best Community Event
Coogee Live 2021, City of Cockburn, Western Australia
Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event
Parramatta Lanes 2020, City of Parramatta, New South Wales
Best Regional Event
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021, Northern Territory Major Events Company
Best Technical Achievement in a Live or Hybrid Event
ORACLE – LIQUID PTY LTD for their work on Sea World Carnivale 2021
Best Technical Achievement in a Virtual Event
Big Picture for their work on Dally M Awards 2020
Best Online Event Delivery Platform
EventsAIR for OnAIR
Best Innovation, New Product or New Service
Evise and Pyrus for their work on Know My Name Conference 2020
Best Achievement in Design
Electric Canvas (The) for their work on Brisbane City Hall Christmas Projections 2020 (Gold Lotto City Hall Lights Spectacular)
Best Achievement in Marketing or Communication
Northern Territory Major Events Company for their work on Parrtjima – a Festival in Light 2021
Best Achievement in Studio Management
Big Picture for their work at the Big Picture Live Event Studio
Small Event Management Organisation of the Year
Nectar Creative Communications
Event Management Organisation of the Year
Rizer
EY Secrets of the Archibald 2020, Jack Morton Australia
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