Australia’s top event professionals recognised at MEA national awards ceremony
Industry association Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) has celebrated the achievements of the country’s meeting industry during 2023 at its annual awards dinner, this year held at the Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.
Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Luke Hannan, the 2023 MEA National Awards presentation ceremony bookended MEA’s annual conference, Evolve 2024.
More than 200 guests saw 32 awards presented, including the bestowal of three Platinum Awards to recipients who achieved the highest score via the judging process within their respective greater categories.
Special congratulations went to: MEA Platinum Company of the Year – Forum Group Events & Marketing; MEA Platinum Event of the Year – ICMS Australasia – Meeting of the Mines 2023, and to MEA Platinum Event Professional of the Year – Tiffany Lo from ICMS Australasia.
MEA CEO Peter McDonald said: “We were able to showcase performances of distinction across the breadth of the Australian events industry during 2023. It’s my hope that every national, as well as state and territory, finalist and winner will use their peer determined acknowledgement to champion and leverage themselves as they conduct business.”
MEA’s Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Ian Whitworth who has had a distinguished career in the business events industry, building up Scene Change over the last 17 years into a significant premium national AV company. He is also highly regarded as an ‘out there’ marketing icon, author and blogger.
Two businesses entered MEA’s Hall of Fame: Harry the hirer for Exhibition Services and Congress Australia for Specialist Services and Suppliers.
The full list of the National Finalists and National Winners for the 2023 MEA Awards Programme:
| EVENT MANAGEMENT AWARDS – SPONSORED BY BLACK DIAMOND AGENCY | |
| Event Agency | Forum Group Events & Marketing |
| In-House Event Management Team – Corporate | Melbourne Royal |
| In-House Event Management Team – Government | Programs and Events Team Queensland Department of Education |
| Professional Conference Organisation | Wise Connections |
| EVENT PRODUCTS & SERVICES AWARDS | |
| Audio Visual Services | AV1 |
| Banqueting & Catering | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
| Event Technology | EventsAir |
| Exhibition Services | Harry the hirer |
| Speakers, Entertainers and Team Builders | SongDivision |
| Specialist Services and Suppliers | Congress Australia |
| EXCELLENCE IN INDUSTRY AWARDS | |
| Destination Marketing Business | Destination North Coast Business Events |
| VENUE AWARDS – SPONSORED BY CVENT | |
| Event Venue – Capacity >1,000 | Sydney Showground |
| Event Hotel of the Year | Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific |
| EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS – SPONSORED BY CVENT | |
| Association Event of the Year | Heavy Vehicle Industry Association – Brisbane Truck Show 2023 |
| Cause Related Event of the Year | Biaggio Signorelli Foundation – BiaggioSignorelli Foundation 15 Year Tribute Gala Dinner |
| Corporate Event of the Year | The University of Queensland – UQ Open Day – St Lucia |
| Exhibition of the Year | ICMS Australasia – 26th World Mining Exhibition |
| Government Event of the Year | CSIRO – 26th World Mining Congress |
| Incentive Event of the Year | Encore Event Technologies APAC – Amway China Leadership Seminar |
| Major Event or Festival of the Year | SXSW Sydney – SXSW Sydney |
| Regional Event of the Year | ICMS Australasia – Meeting of the Mines 2023 |
Acknowledgement To Country
We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work together. Doltone Defense Services pay respect to all First Nations peoples, their Elders both past, present and emerging and acknowledge their connections and continuity of culture, languages, leadership and knowledge systems. We acknowledge First Nations peoples’ continuous connection to Country, recognizing the unique, diverse identities and cultures of their peoples, country’s and nations.