MEA NAMES WINNERS

Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) last night honoured the “innovation and exceptional work done by organisations and individuals in the events sector throughout 2020,” in the MEA Awards Night broadcast virtually for the second year running.

MEA CEO Peter McDonald hailed all of the finalists who were up for an award.

“I’d like to acknowledge the effort made by anyone who contributed a submission for consideration, to congratulate those who became worthy finalists, and to celebrate those deemed to ultimately be category winners,” he said.

The awards were delivered in partnership with Destination NSW, EventsAIR, ICC Sydney, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Touchpoint and Ungerboeck, while MEA also thanked Scene Change Studios in Sydney for stepping in to help when the event was forced to go online due to lockdowns.

Winners included immediate past chair of MEA, Kate Smith from Waldronsmith Management, who took out the 2020 Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising her commitment to the organisation while also dealing with COVID challenges in her own business.

National Excellence in Industry awards went to Destination North Coast and Harry the hirer, while Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre took out the Banqueting and Catering national category.

Other national winners included Novatech Creative Event Technology for AV services, Milestone Creative for Event Marketing, EventsAIR in the Event Technology category, and Harry the hirer for Exhibition Services.

Alison Jack from Admire Events was named Event Manager of the Year - Agency, while Victoria Dillon of La Trobe University took out the In-House Event Manager of the Year award.

The national Professional Conference Organisation category went to Arinex, while Hyatt Regency Sydney was named Event Hotel of the Year.

MEA also named its state and territory winners in all categories.

For more details of the event see meetingsevents.com.au.