Welcome to the wrap.
Remember back in January I published an article looking at where the money from the Business Events Grant scheme went?
Who benefited from the 2020 Business Events Grants Scheme?
You may remember that the biggest recipient was an arms expo – Land Forces. Well, investigative reporter Callum Foote has had a look at that expo and it makes for interesting reading.
What do you think the arms trade is, a charity? Actually yes, that’s what it is
All’s not fair at the warfare Expo, where taxpayer-funded arms merchants hobnob with military types by invitation only.
How would you like Optus as a client?
The invitations were sent. The venue was set. More than 100 business leaders, government figures and major customers were to attend an “evening of culinary delights and meaningful dialog [sic]” hosted by Optus and its parent company Singtel Group at the Art Gallery of NSW on September 27.
Optus’ chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin and chairman Paul O’Sullivan would be leading the festivities to “celebrate how our partnerships enable us to unlock future value for consumers, businesses and communities”.
But five days before the soirée, news broke that Optus had experienced the biggest cybersecurity breach in Australian corporate history, allowing criminals to download the details of almost 10 million customers. Despite the unfolding events and a growing customer backlash, there was no sign of the event being cancelled.
Over the ensuing days, the public response to the stolen data grew more vociferous. As Optus’ handling of it came under the microscope, the company copped a barrage from the media and the federal government. At 10pm the night before the dinner, Optus pulled the pin on the event.
Optus was set to dine out on its success. Then the hack happened – SMH
Female event managers wanted for research
We are looking for women event managers from the UK and Australia to help us with some research into leadership development. We want to understand the barriers and the facilitators for women (inc. anyone identifying as a woman) obtaining leadership roles within the event industry, and we’d love to talk to you about your experiences. If you have worked in the industry for more than 5 years, and are interested in helping us out, please drop me a DM, email me on e.abson@shu.ac.uk or comment below and I’ll be in touch!
For info: The aim of the project will be to identify what helps women develop their leadership potential in the event industry and what holds them back; we’ll be keen to share our findings with industry and academia.
Project is with: James Kennell, Dr Natalie Haynes, Elspeth Frew, Dr. Miriam Firth
News updates
Tourism Portfolio celebrates 20 years
Tourism Portfolio is celebrating 20 years this month, with founder Donna Kessler reflecting on the challenges and successes and the changing face of the business events sector.
Event Awards nominees announced
The expert judging panel have announced the best Events in Australia, together with a host of achievements and companies that make up the nominees for the Australian Event Awards 2022.
Natalie O’Brien AM joins the MCEC in January 2023 and brings a wealth of leadership experience in the tourism and events industry.
Essentially Australia has eight different jurisdictions (the feds, six states and two territories) doing things in different ways. This is most apparent in health in regards to data collection, analysing and reporting.
And….
Ruby the Roo to promote tourism? – so soon after Ruby Princess?
As of this week mask wearing is no longer mandatory and is now a matter of “personal responsibility”. If only the same applied to speed limits around non-existent roadworks.
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