After 29 years as the national voice for business events, the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has been voluntarily de-registered – recently confirmed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.  

BECA has achieved much on behalf of the business events industry, in particular raising the profile of the sector with government and funding research to demonstrate the sector’s contribution to the economy. During COVID lockdowns, however, it became clear that a larger and better resourced industry association was needed if the business events sector is to realise its full potential. BECA’s Board commissioned consultants to develop such an organisation. The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) that was launched in July was the outcome of this project.   

Whilst the Meetings and Events Association (MEA) and Professional Conference Organisers Association (PCOA) have elected to remain as independent associations, the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA), the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) and the Australian Convention Centre Group (ACCG) decided to dissolve their associations and encourage their members to join ABEA directly as the key voice for the industry.   

As BECA has provided a sound platform upon which ABEA has been built, BECA’s proud history of achievements will be documented and made available when complete.