PCO Association announces an individual winner of the PCO ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S AWARD

ALEC Gilbert the retiring chief executive of the Adelaide Convention Centre has been awarded the PCO Association Presidents Award for his services to Adelaide Convention Centre and the business events sector in South Australia and Australia.

Barry Neame, president of the PCO Association, announced the Award at a luncheon of business events professionals in Canberra last week.

The award is given at the discretion of the PCO Association management team to an individual, member or someone who has demonstrated excellence in business events that has value added to professional development and the economy.

Mr Neame said one of Mr Gilbert’s greatest accomplishments was the $397M redevelopment of the Adelaide Convention Centre.

“He has a widely acknowledged reputation for being an innovator and strong proponent of the value of business events.

“His contribution to South Australia’s business events via the Convention Centre, along with his involvement with SA Tourism, the Convention Bureau, and Business Events Council Australia has been outstanding.”

Mr Gilbert, after 12 years of outstanding achievement, has said the time is right to implement a succession plan to transition management of the Adelaide Convention Centre.

He is remaining chief executive at the centre until the end of this month to facilitate a management transition to Simon Burgess, who has held the position of director of convention and exhibition sales at the centre for more than five years.