From the CEO
(Pictured: Linda Gaunt, MEA Chief Executive Officer)
It’s Conference Time
With only three weeks to go Conference registrations for Alice Springs are still coming in. It’s not too late to join the 460-plus industry professionals already registered to attend. Our Alice Springs host committee and associated supporters are looking forward to welcoming you to their destination in a most sensational fashion!
Many of you would have noted our ongoing marketing campaign designed to tempt you to the Conference. Please note if you have already registered or are not planning to attend this year, at the bottom of the email you will find the word unsubscribe, please click on that and you will receive no more Conference marketing. Clicking on this link will not delete you from any other MEA communications only the Conference marketing.
Special Interest Groups at the MEA National Conference
Members were advised via e-communication ten months ago that the minutes of last year’s Special Interest Group meetings at the MEA Conference in Tasmania had been uploaded to the Members Area of our website. If you missed this communication and have not visited our website of late I invite you to do so before attending your Special Interest Group at the upcoming Conference.
We are currently setting up the format for this year’s Special Interest Groups and many of you would have received an email asking for your Agenda items. Thank you to each of you for the large response we have received. Your items will be placed on the Agenda and you will be part of the prioritisation process on the day. There have also been a number of active Special Interest Groups throughout the year and the outcomes of these meetings will also be tabled on the Agenda. If you have registered to attend a Special Interest Group in the very near future you will receive further communication in regard to the venue; time; chair and agenda and a report against last year minutes.
MEA State Awards
State Awards Celebrations have been held around the country over the past two months and I congratulate each of our participants who reached finalist or winner status within their state. The time and effort that was put into each award submission highlights your continued involvement and dedication to the industry and saw you reach above the qualifying benchmark level and beyond.
The upcoming MEA National Awards evening in Alice Springs is sure to be a superb time for celebration.
Review Panel – MEA Meetings Manager Accreditation Program
The MEA Meetings Manager review committee has recently been formed and I would like to thank the following people for their assurance of participation on the review committee:
- Rhona Walker AFMEA, Managing Director of Solution RED
- Sarah Markey-Hamm AMM, National Manager of ICMS Pty Ltd - VIC - Head Office
- Roslyn McLeod OAM, AMM, AFMEA, Managing Director of Tour Hosts Pty Limited
- Lesley Woods AMM, Meetings & Events Manager of SAPMEA
- Ruth Lilian OAM, AMM, Conference Manager
- Michael Siebert AFMEA, General Manager of Adelaide Expo Hire Pty Ltd
We will also be seeking input from our highly regarded admission panel, Jill Mason and Paul Lyons.
It is expected that the review will commence in early July and take up to 4 months.