Hosted at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley during Meeting and Events Australia’s two-day annual conference, the awards night celebrated excellence in the events industry, with 32 gongs being handed out.
Among the winners were audio-visual company AV1 (Audio-Visual Services category) and musical team-building company SongDivision (Speakers, Entertainers and Team Builders category).
Both companies will be showcasing their services at Events Uncovered presented by Spice at MCA Australia on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024. AV1 will deliver an educational hub, and SongDivision will present a fun and interactive musical engagement – both at the Spice Knowledge Sessions.
Among the 32 awards were three Platinum Awards to recipients who achieved the highest score via the judging process within their respective categories. One of these winners was Forum Group Events & Marketing (MEA Platinum Company of the Year), whose founder and managing director, Lauren Hayward, will also be delivering industry insights during a session on event marketing at Events Uncovered presented by Spice.
She will feature in an informative session onstage in conversation with Spice editor Gavin Dennett.
The two other Platinum Awards went to ICMS Australasia (MEA Platinum Event of the Year: Meeting of the Mines 2023, and MEA Platinum Event Professional of the Year: Tiffany Lo). The company enjoyed a successful night, taking home six awards.
“Last night [at the awards ceremony on 13 June, 2024] we were able to showcase performances of distinction across the breadth of the Australian events industry,” says MEA CEO Peter McDonald.
“It’s my hope that every national, state and territory finalist and winner will use their peer-determined acknowledgement to champion and leverage themselves as they conduct business.
“My thanks go to the chair of judges, Simon Baggs, and all judges for their volunteered time and experience.”
The Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Ian Whitworth, who has established Scene Change as a significant premium national AV company during the past 17 years.
Two businesses entered MEA’s Hall of Fame: Harry the Hirer for Exhibition Services, and Congress Australia for Specialist Services and Suppliers.
Here is the full list of MEA Awards winners:
National Event Management Awards
Event Agency: Forum Group Events & Marketing.
In-House Event Management Team – Corporate: Melbourne Royal.
In-House Event Management Team – Government: Programs and Events Team, Queensland Department of Education.
Professional Conference Organisation: Wise Connections.
Event Products and Services Awards
Audio Visual Services: AV1.
Banqueting and Catering: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Event Technology: EventsAir.
Exhibition Services: Harry the Hirer.
Speakers, Entertainers and Team Builders: SongDivision.
Specialist Services and Suppliers: Congress Australia.
Excellence in Industry Awards
Destination Marketing Business: Destination North Coast Business Events.
Venue Awards
Event Venue – Capacity >1000: Sydney Showground.
Event Hotel of the Year: Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific.
Event of the Year
Association Event of the Year: Heavy Vehicle Industry Association – Brisbane Truck Show 2023.
Cause Related Event of the Year: Biaggio Signorelli Foundation – Biaggio Signorelli Foundation 15 Year Tribute Gala Dinner.
Corporate Event of the Year: The University of Queensland – UQ Open Day – St Lucia.
Exhibition of the Year: ICMS Australasia – 26th World Mining Exhibition.
Government Event of the Year: CSIRO – 26th World Mining Congress.
Incentive Event of the Year: Encore Event Technologies APAC – Amway China Leadership Seminar.
Major Event or Festival of the Year: SXSW Sydney.
Regional Event of the Year: ICMS Australasia – Meeting of the Mines 2023.
Special Event of the Year: VEE Agency – River Riffs.
Event Legacy
Event Legacy: SoldOut Events – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand, FIFA Fan Festival, Brisbane/Meanjin.
Individual Awards
Event Manager of the Year – Agency: Matt Cooper, Sold Out.
Event Educator of the Year: Nicci Gow, TAFE NSW.
In-House Event Manager of the Year: Nicola Taylor, Queensland Department of Education.
MEA Future Leader: Tiffany Lo, ICMS Australasia.
Sales, Marketing or Business Development Person of the Year: Suellen Holland, ICMS Australasia.
Platinum Awards
Platinum Event of the Year: ICMS Australasia – Meeting of the Mines 2023.
Platinum Company of the Year: Forum Group Events and Marketing.
Platinum Event Professional of the Year: Tiffany Lo, ICMS Australasia.
Outstanding Contribution
Outstanding Contribution: Ian Whitworth, Scene Change.
To purchase tickets for Events Uncovered presented by Spice, visit eventsuncovered.com.au.
