I made a brief visit to Sydney CBD last weekend and felt quite a buzz. Following lockdowns and wet weather it great to see so many people around again.

Going behind the scenes of events

We know what goes on behind the scenes of our events but how much do our guests know about what needs to be done to pull a successful event together.

The ABC spent a year documenting behind the scenes at the Sydney Opera House and the three part series is well worth a look. Of particular interest is preparations for New Year’s Eve 2021, Australia Day 2022 and VIVID Live – catch it on ABC iView.

Tourism Australia funding

Tourism Australia will receive $36 million less from the public purse next year, down from A$214 million in 2021 to A$178 million in 2023.

The Treasury said the cut was “due to the temporary nature of the government’s additional tourism marketing campaigns as international travel resumes” post COVID.

Tourism minister Don Farrell focused on the A$48 million commitment from the government to upgrade caravan parks and alleviate the staffing shortage to grow and rebuild the sector to “return to the economic powerhouse we know it to be”.

Over the past 5 years Tourism Australia’s government funding has increased by over 65% from $129 million in 2018 to $214 million in 2022.

The $36 million cut will still leave the organisation 38% up over five years.

Movements and Appointments

Expertise Events eyes the future with new General Manager

Effective immediately, Zac Fitz-Roy has been made General Manager and will lead the company’s day to day operations.

Nicole Tingey elected new SITE ANZ president

Nicole was most recently SITE ANZ VP of Sponsorship, working with other board members to successfully deliver the inaugural SITE ANZ Conference in Sydney in 2022.

Business Events Adelaide has appointed Jakki Govan as general manager of bid management.

Jakki Govan is co-owner with Nicole Tingey of Clockwise Consulting which provides outsourced sales and marketing for destinations and unique venues.

Grant Piggott leaves the Adelaide Showground

After 26 years and 25 Royal Adelaide Shows, Grant Piggott has left his role as General Manager of the South Australian RA&HS.

Announcing his departure Piggott said, “The Society is in excellent shape. We have successfully navigated the impacts of the pandemic with great support from all of our stakeholders and received an amazing response to the 2022 Royal Adelaide Show by the people of South Australia.

The management and staff of the Society, now under the leadership of Will Rayner, are talented and dedicated. 

I owe the RAHS a great deal – it has availed me with the outstanding opportunity to work with a broad range of quality people and become inextricably linked to two much admired businesses – Royal Adelaide Show and Adelaide Showground”.

Peter Jones and Virginia Lovett appointed to MCEC Trust

Two of Victoria’s most influential leaders in the events and creative sectors have been appointed to the Trust that manages the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Peter Jones AM and Virginia Lovett.

Peter Jones is one of Australia’s leading event producers, having more than 30 years’ experience delivering major events across the country.

He is Managing Director of Peter Jones Special Events and has been recognised with accolades for his service to the visitor economy, including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, a Lord Mayor’s Commendation and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Event Awards.

Virginia Lovett is the Executive Director & Co CEO of the Melbourne Theatre Company, President of Arts Projects Australia; member of the City of Melbourne’s Night Time Advisory Committee, an Executive Councillor for Live Performance Australia and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2006.

She is a highly regarded leader in the cultural space, having previously led the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as well as holding senior marketing, communication and audience development positions across Zoos Victoria, Sydney Festival, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and Sydney Theatre Company.

GPJ has appointed Chrissie Mills as its managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

Starting her career in London but working all over the world, Mills spent over a decade with integrated marketing agency iris Worldwide, before joining Yakusan Brand Experience in Sydney as a client services director. Immediately prior to joining GPJ, she led the local iteration of Gyro, a specialist B2B marketing agency within Dentsu, another global marketing agency.

BEIA appoints new Events Manager Chris Peak is joining Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) as Events Manager, responsible for BEIA’s key events including the annual MEETINGS exhibition.
He replaces Jen Henshaw who leaves BEIA later next week after delivering two successful MEETINGS events in 2021 and 2022 and this year’s conference.
“We are immensely grateful to Jen for all her exceptional work during the last two challenging years,” BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says.
Chris has been with The Conference Company in Auckland for the past eight years, managing the successful delivery of in-person, hybrid, and virtual events across New Zealand and Australia for this globally-recognised professional conference organiser (PCO).