Starting tonight, and continuing until 31 October, short video broadcasts, announcing the Finalists and National Winner of each category, will be published on the Awards’ YouTube channel each evening.

Tonight, the broadcasts will kick off with three category announcements: Best Live or Hybrid Corporate Event at 6pm (AEDT), Best Online Event Delivery Platform at 7pm (AEDT) & Best Virtual Small Event at 8pm (AEDT). The remainder of October will see two categories announced per night, at 6pm (AEDT) and 8pm (AEDT).

The Australian Event Awards is the national awards program for the events industry. It is the only opportunity for event professionals to compete directly across the nation and across all facets of the Industry to establish which are Australia’s best events and event-related goods, services and innovations.

Among 24 Best Events, Achievements and Organisation Awards Categories is the Lifetime Achievement Award which aims at recognising great Australian events industry figures that have made significant contributions to events in Australia.

In 2021, the exceptionally deserving recipient of this prestigious Award is Mr. John Harnden, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust, responsible for the management of Australia’s largest sports and entertainment precinct, including Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park – and home of the Australian Open.

Mr. Harnden has extensive experience in leadership and executive management and is a highly regarded authority in sports business administration and major events – both nationally and internationally.

He has over 30 years’ experience heading up major sporting, entertainment, media and tourism organisations. Throughout this time Mr. Harnden has worked as Chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Chief Executive of the ICC 2015 World Cup Organising Committee, South Australian Cricket Association, Village Roadshow International Theme Parks, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and he also served as Chief Executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

In 2007, he was awarded an Order of Australia for services to sport for his work on the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and in 2020 he was given lifetime membership of Motorsport Australia.

Currently, Mr. Harnden is working as the Chair of ICC 2022 T20 World Cup Organising Committee and a Director of Cricket Australia. 

“I’m grateful and humbled to join the ranks of so many esteemed colleagues who have been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

In my career I’ve had the privilege to work across events, sports, tourism and venue management, and the one thing they have in common is that they all rely on great team work. I’ve been very fortunate to work with some of the most talented and dedicated people in the sector.

In accepting this award I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those I have worked with, who have contributed to our shared successes.” John Hardnen AM.

All of the 2021 Australian Event Awards finalists and winners, including Mr. John Harnden, will be announced as a series of bite sized, video broadcasts uploaded to the Awards’ YouTube channel each evening over 12 days from 20 – 31 October. Mr. Harnden will be presented with his Lifetime Achievement Award on Wednesday 27 October at 8pm (AEDT) on YouTube.

The schedule of each category announcement can be viewed on the Awards website or you can subscribe to their YouTube channel to get an alert when each video goes live.

Category Announcement Schedule