Australia's reputation for excellence and innovation in events will be nationally recognised this year, with the launch of the 2009 Australian Event Awards.
By Gwen O’Toole
Australia’s reputation for excellence and innovation in events will be nationally recognised this year, with the launch of the 2009 Australian Event Awards, a new national awards program designed to reward performance and unite the Australian Events industry.
The Australian Event Awards, to be staged in October this year, will encompass business, cultural, sporting and community events, as well as achievements in sustainability, Australian excellence in event exports and outstanding individuals.
A panel of highly skilled industry experts will judge the Awards, co-chaired by Australian Centre for Event Management foundation director John Allen and Sandy Hollway, formerly CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympic Games.
“Until now, there has never been an overarching awards program recognising the full scope of excellence in Australian events. The Australian Event Awards marks an important program in spelling out the achievements of our thriving industry to the wider community,” Allen said.
According to Hollway, the creation of a national event awards program is crucial not only for the confidence and professional development of the Australian Events Industry, but also for promoting the export of Australia’s world-class skills in the sector.
“Major events in Australia have recently been the breeding ground for a new export industry, with Australian companies and experts sought after by major events throughout the world,” he said.
“These days there is barely an event around the world that doesn’t have some level of Australian expertise involved – nobody can do it better than Australia, and it is time we as an industry recognised that.”
“From regional and community events to multi-million dollar conferences and festivals, anyone involved in production and supply of Australian events is encouraged to enter,” said executive producer of the awards, Jeremy Miller.
Award criteria for the 2009 Australian Event Awards will be available online from Monday May 4, 2009. There are 24 categories of awards spanning all sections of the industry and entries are open to any event staged between July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009.
For more information about the Awards, click here.
