MEA HAILS SUCCESS OF EVOLVE

MEETINGS and Events Australia (MEA) has delivered the country’s first ever full-day virtual conference, with more than 25 plenary and concurrent sessions featured in the Evolve: Renovated program.

Over 550 event professionals across Australia and New Zealand took part in the organisation’s major annual event, which has pivoted to an online format for the first time in more than 40 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The technology, broadcast from Melbourne’s Deakin Edge at Federation Square, was facilitated by Events Air’s OnAir platform which repackaged the traditional face-to-face gathering into a single day TV-style production.

MEA Chair Kate Smith said “through the leadership, collaboration and generous support from our valued partners, we were able to reimagine Evolve and share inspiring and thought-provoking presentations that helped us to navigate and shape our industry’s recovery”.

“We were proud to lead the way and bring our community together to reconnect and share this ground-breaking experience.”

The event featured Australian comedian and media presenter Dave Thornton as MC, along with a range of educational updates interspersed with personal care, wellness and fitness sessions.

Participants were also invited to connect and network online with other attendees via the platform’s Meeting Hub and virtual exhibition.

MEA CEO Robyn Johnson said Evolve: Renovated was “a great opportunity to demonstrate MEA’s leadership in the planning and delivery of exceptional events and experiences and demonstrate the ingenuity of the venue and our tech partners”.

Participants who attended the virtual conference will be provided with access to recordings of every session via the MEATV platform.