Business Events Sydney (BESydney)  has launched a new Future Leaders program at the BESydney 2012 Ambassador Dinner and Investiture event held this week.

Four talented individuals from New South Wales’ leading universities are the first members of the program, which aims to facilitate relationships with some of the State’s brightest minds to uncover valuable information, stay ahead of emerging trends, develop more bid opportunities and profile the next generation of bid leaders.

The Future Leaders (pictured) were named at an exclusive event held this week.

Future Leaders will receive grants to attend global business events relating to their fields of expertise to develop networks, identify bid opportunities and to explore the structure and purposes of conferences and congresses. Leaders will provide valuable perspective, insights and ideas to help BESydney to keep its finger on the pulse of the ever-changing architecture of meetings.

“The business events sector is evolving at a rapid rate and the competitive landscape is changing considerably,” comments Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney.

“We are adapting to changes brought about by technological advancement, the rise of the Asian market and its inherent challenges and opportunities, and the increasing competitiveness of our global market. We have to be on the front foot when it comes to identifying and responding to trends. The Future Leaders program will be integral to this process and together we will simultaneously promote our local talent to the world. We have to be future-focused now. Tomorrow is too late,” says Lyn Lewis-Smith.

The four Future Leaders announced are: Dr. Pia Winberg, director, Shoalhaven Marine and Freshwater Centre, University of Wollongong; Dr Andrew Hutchinson, Chancellor’s Post Doctoral Research Fellow, School of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney; Dr Amanda Kennedy, deputy director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England and Dr Jochen Schweitzer, lecturer in Strategy and Marketing, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney

Inaugural Future Leaders are members of the academic teams of NSW universities, as Lyn Lewis-Smith comments, “These institutions are home to much of our State’s intellectual capital, and ongoing collaboration with our university sector is key to our success in the business event industry. Universities are home to many industry leaders who bid for international events, they house the world-leading research facilities showcased in technical tours and many of their staff are already members of our existing Ambassador program.”