MEA’s Evolve 2022 set for June date

Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) has announced that its 2022 annual conference, Evolve, will be held at the Sofitel Melbourne On Collins, 29-30 June. Peter McDonald, CEO of MEA, said: “We hope that our early public commitment to lead by example and proceed with our conference will give rise and reassurance to the market and sector at a time when it’s most needed. McDonald added: “Despite having postponed from last year, we’re very excited to have reconfirmed former Disney Head of Innovation and Creativity Duncan Wardle as a keynote speaker for the event.” Traditionally coupled with Evolve is an Awards dinner however, the MEA Board has decided that an awards programme for 2021 will not be conducted. Michael Firman, chairman of MEA, commented: “The Board is confident that whilst regrettable, its decision to abstain from holding an awards programme in 2022 is right and in the best interests of the programme’s integrity, and past and future winners. The capacity to deliver events around Australia last year was hindered by the realities experienced in managing the Covid pandemic. Our hope is that the environment will improve to being one that supports an abundance of events this year that will in turn underwrite a keenly contested Awards programme in 2023.” The registration portal and event programme will be made available and published in February.