ICMS Australasia hosts Northern Territory staff conference

The ICMS Australasia team visited Alice Springs, Northern Territory, for a bleisure development experience. Due to travel restrictions in place during 2020 and 2021, the company’s staff conference was postponed until 2022. When a potential destination for the conference was put to a vote Alice Springs was selected by the company employees, under the theme of ‘Reconnection’. The 27 attendees at the Conference included ICMSA’s senior and junior meeting and event planners, web designers, communication specialists, administration, and finance staff. The program’s business sessions at the Alice Springs Desert Park and Alice Springs Convention Centre included sharing the company’s finances, future goals, and a series of brainstorming workshops on secured upcoming conferences. The `reconnection’ aspect of the event was delivered through four days of workshops and a range of extra-curricular activities. These included a private viewing of the Alice Springs Desert Park’s renowned facilities, a bird show, an Aboriginal dot painting workshop by Ayeye Atyenhe Art, and a group camel ride in the desert. Staff also experienced a hot air balloon ride with Outback Balloons, where they viewed the MacDonnell Ranges desert mountains. The group visited the Alice Springs-based social enterprise, Purple House. The facility provides important kidney dialysis services for Aboriginal patients in the Northern Territory. ICMSA staff participated in the making of traditional Bush Balm, which Purple House sells to assist in funding its work. ICMSA owner and managing director, Emma Bowyer, said: “We spoke to Northern Territory Business Events about our program, and they provided excellent guidance to us on all elements.” “Alice Springs and the Northern Territory is a truly unique and quintessential Australian destination, aligning perfectly with our own corporate values.”