Silver lady to lead the event team back into new-look Cairns Convention Centre

From the moment Vania Bau heard about the Cairns Convention Centre being built she knew she wanted to be a part of it. Twenty-five years later Vania will lead the event team as the Centre re-opens after a major refurbishment. As the team at the Cairns Convention Centre packed up the offices in April 2020 and prepared to leave the building ahead of the AUD$176m (US$137.7m) expansion, they discovered an old Cairns Post newspaper from November 1995 advertising for a client services manager. Vania landed the role and during the course of 25 years has helped deliver over 2,000 events, including over 500 national and international conferences. Re-reading that old advert in her silver jubilee year of service to the Centre, Vania recalls how she wanted to be part of the team from the start and work in an industry where no two days are the same. “Never did I think it would lead to a 25-year career in the industry,” she says. Over the years Vania has delivered a broad range of events, with tasks varying from rounding up 60 bulls and 40 well-mannered cowboys for the Professional Bull Riding (PBR), to the intricacies and security connected the G20 Finance Minister Meeting. There have been some interesting challenges along the way. “One international artist’s rider list included a new toilet seat and white dressing room. And for one event we lowered four singers ten metres from the ceiling in the middle of a dinner service; thankfully with no hiccups,” Vania remembers. “One of the most memorable events over the time was the 2014 Australian Tourist Exchange (ATE). It was the first time the event had being held in a regional destination. It was amazing to see the whole of Cairns get behind the event and showcase the great work our industry does and our beautiful region.” Vania and her colleagues’ hard work has paid off, with the Centre winning the AIPC World’s Best Convention Centre twice. The award is judged on client feedback. “Anyone who has worked in the events industry knows the hours can be long and there a lot of challenges to overcome,” Vania adds. “Winning the World’s Best twice makes all the hard yards and going that extra mile for your client worth it. Building a strong relationship with your team, clients and suppliers is the key success.” As the Centre prepares to open up in May after the refurbishment, the expansion continues and Vania is looking forward to getting back into the Centre and doing her day job. “I can’t wait to host events again and welcome guests back through the doors. The purpose of the centre is bringing people together and I am looking forward to doing that again,” she says. The new expansion will mean a new ability to host multiple conferences and events, “and the new Trinity level with the views over the Trinity Inlet will be spectacular,” says Vania. “Over the past year we have learnt to be more patient and kinder, and I hope this continues,” she adds.