Australian voices get behind GMID

Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) has leant its support to Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID18), uniting with the meeting industry across the globe to highlight the legacy impact of business events on communities, businesses and economies. MCB CEO Karen Bolinger, Dr Kapila Gupta, international president of Inner Wheel, Val Corva, Inner Wheel convention coordinator, Alannah Gottschalk, general manager, ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd and Tracey Spicer, renowned Australian Journalist, toasted GMID at the 17th International Inner Wheel Convention taking place this week in Melbourne at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). International Inner Wheel is one of the largest women’s service voluntary organisations in the world. Bolinger said: “The International Inner Wheel Convention will inspire delegates to find new ways to leave a legacy in their communities and enact real impact and change for those who need it most through service-based activities. I am thrilled that Melbourne has provided the platform for these important conversations to take place. It’s significant that this conference falls on Global Meetings Industry Day, where the industry highlights the value of business events across the world.” Alannah Gottschalk, general manager, ICMS Australasia Pty Ltd added that business events played a key role in connecting people. “The ladies of International Inner Wheel will be connecting at the MCEC this week to discuss new initiatives and ideas that they will enable them to carry out service-based projects in their local communities which have the capacity to change lives,” Gottschalk said. Global Meetings Industry Day was established by Meetings Mean Business, an industry wide coalition. Australian events management company Arinex has also been celebrating GMID and CEO Tamara Kavalec led a roundtable that was streamed across the company’s five state offices. The discussion was aimed at helping Arinex staff share knowledge and experiences, as well as encourage some self-reflection on what values the events industry has given them. “We work in such a fast-paced environment, it’s not often we take the opportunity to reflect on what drives us and makes this industry such an appealing and engaging place to work for people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences,” Kavalec said. The Arinex forum (pictured below) centred around two key questions; what attracted you to the events industry and what inspires you in your career? Some comments at the Arinex forum included: “I first heard about events in Year 9 at a career education class. I also had two family members who worked in events so my expectations about joining the events industry were pretty accurate – and I love it. Our day to day lives are really exciting; every conference we do is different, we get to meet new people and I like the overall challenge of delivering events,” said Lauren Detez, project coordinator, Perth. “One thing I’ve learnt – and come to love – is how in this industry, you get to be a part of some pretty significant moments. We all play our own, small parts but sometimes you forget the bigger picture. There was a biotechnology conference recently and it led to a big discovery, on how to edit people’s DNA. That came about because of the conference, because two scientists at that conference got talking and put their heads together,” said Shaun Daws, business systems analyst, Sydney. “I started working in the disability industry and decided to come to events about eight years ago. I love the adrenalin of creating and delivering an event and being part of something big – and making other people happy because of it. People have said to me that working in the disability industry must have been rewarding – but I actually find it more rewarding in events. You feel proud of what you do and you feel like you’re making an impact. It’s completely addictive,” said Shireen Sampson, WA business development manager, Perth. “I also started in another industry, as a social worker. I saw a job opening with a conference producer years ago, and I thought that sounded like a pretty glamorous job. I also liked the idea of travelling for work. That was what hooked me. Since then I’ve done marketing and communications and tele sales and now sponsorship and exhibition, and I think it’s great that we work in an industry that allows you to be what you want to be. What I find so rewarding is enabling others to achieve their goals through the work that I do as part of an events team,” said Elaine Koh, account manager, Sydney.