At the 2007 ACT MEA branch report in October, the local committee reported on our activities for the last period and presented a positive financial situation for the year.

During the latter part of 07, we delivered two stand-out professional development sessions. One featuring Colin Chodos talking to our executive level members on the topic of creating high performance work cultures and the second session addressing the issue of how to make your event ‘green’ with Jeremy Garling. Both sessions generated great feedback.

In 2008, I strongly recommend you to make it your New Year's resolution to come along to the sessions our professional development committee are planning this year.

I am pleased to announce our ACT MEA & USI Young Professional Scholarship Winner for 2008 as Daniel McAlpine from the National Convention Centre. Please be sure to pass on your congratulations to Dan at the National Conference in May.
 
In addition to introducing a new face, I would like to farewell some old MEA faces as they travel a new path this year and say thank you to Omar San Juan, Andrew Shaw and Melanie Chettle as they leave their respective industry roles and start new adventures in the coming year. All three have certainly been great supporters of MEA in the past and we wish you all well in 08.

Thank you again to our sponsors for your on going support.

See you at the next ClubMEA event.

Dana Busic
ACT MEA Chair

In April 07 Canberra was selected as the only Australian city to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The inclusion of the newly refurbished National Convention Centre is being proposed to form part of the torch’s route through the city. The route to encompass the NCC will be given the stamp of approval by the Beijing Olympic Committee early this year….so stay tuned for this exciting announcement coming very soon.

ACT MEA thinks it’s a great opportunity to shine the torch on the local business events industry.

The ACT Government is currently out in the market seeking Expressions of Interest from appropriate companies, individuals or consortia to assist with scoping specific projects, activities and events for the 2013 Canberra Centenary.

If you have the experience and capacity to assist in the early Canberra Centenary planning and want to seek out further information visit www.procurement.act.gov.au or contact Moira Davis on 6205 4075.

Submissions close on 7 February 2008.

1. How long have you lived and worked in Canberra for, and what motivated you to work in the meetings industry?
   I moved to Canberra 20 years ago and apart from five years away in Darwin and Perth, see Canberra as my home. I have worked in the meetings industry for over 15 years and love the challenges that it poses. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as having a smooth well-run event.
    
2. You have recently been appointed the position of General Manager for Conference Logistics, which is fantastic. Please tell us a little about the business, and your role.
   Conference Logistics is a medium sized conference company with 10 staff. We work with government, association and corporate clients across Australia. Generally we manage 12-20 events each year ranging from 50 to over 2,000 delegates.
    
3. What are some of the events that Conference Logistics’ has coming up in the near future?
   A sample of events coming up for Conference Logistics:
   
   +  2nd International Salinity Forum, Adelaide, April 2008
   +  Black Hat Reunion, Canberra, April 2008
   +  Medicines Australia Conference, Canberra, April 2008
   +  Australian Disasters Conference 2008, Canberra, May 2008
   +  Australian Wound Management Association, Darwin, May 2008
   +  GP&PHC Conference, Hobart, June 2008
   +  National Local Roads & Transport Congress, Shepparton, June 2008
   +  OZRI, Canberra, September 2008
   +  The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, Adelaide, September 2008
   +  AELERT, Fremantle, October 2008
    
4. How do you feel the industry has changed over the years?
   Innovative technology has changed the industry enormously. Not only the automation of the registration process but the speed at which business is done. Also timeframes have become shorter with clients reducing lead time on events.
    
5. What do you like doing when you have a bit of ‘down time’? Do you get down time?
   Definitely not enough down time but that’s the nature of the business! When I do, I like to cook and try out new recipes, spend time with my husband and three dogs and if time permits, go to the coast.
    
6. Do you have a favourite saying or motto? If so, please share it with us.
   Tickety boo!
    
7. Please share with our members and readers a few of your local favourites (a) best coffee in town; (b) favourite restaurant; (c) favourite watering hole; and (d) your chill-out place
   Best Coffee: Our new office
   Favourite Restaurant: Sabayon
   Favourite Watering Hole: Binara One
   Chill out place – Walking up Mt Taylor
    
8. Last question – you are hosting the ultimate dinner party for five (5) people, including yourself. Who would your guests be (you can choose anyone), and what would you cook?
   Dawn French (to make me laugh)
   Maggie Beer (because I’d really like to meet her)
   Clive Owen (because he’s gorgeous)
   My husband (to keep me in line because Clive Owen’s there)
   
   Cold platter of King Prawns and South Australian Oysters
   Marinated butterfly leg of lamb on a bed of kipfler potatoes, served with fresh asparagus, crisp snow peas and a rocket, pear and parmesan salad
   Raspberries in chardonnay jelly and vanilla bean icecream
   And of course accompanied by seriously good Aussie wines
    

Thumbs up for speaker Colin Chodos!

If you missed out on this important seminar, don't miss our next PD session in 2008. Here is what ACT MEA members had to say… "Fascinating, illuminating and very high energy… Fantastic & really good to see a session for senior managers… Amazing speaker & great detail… Really good ideas on how to empower a team… Excellent presentation. Incredibly valuable."

Managing Director of CCS Behavioural Specialists gave ACT MEA members the inside on how to create high performance work cultures on 5 October at the Brassey Hotel.

Eighteen members attended the session which covered a number of strategies that senior managers could employ to develop a culture of employee and customer satisfaction and loyalty in their workplace. Given the current labour shortage in our industry and the common complaint of businesses finding it difficult in retaining good staff, this session was highly sought after.

The feedback from this session was so overwhelming that we are planning to run another session in 2008. If you are a senior manager and want to suggest another PD topic for the new year, drop a line to Sally Holdsworth at sally.holdsworth@cit.edu.au.

The A to Z of Green Events – Tuesday 23rd October 07 at the National Convention Centre

The ACT MEA committee thought it was about time to put our green foot forward and lead the industry to change….and what better presenter to show us the way than Jeremy Garling of Great Southern E-vents, a strong advocate of all things green and Director of an events company who has achieved the status of accredited Low Co2.

Armed with his Green Policy checklist, Jeremy Garling presented an informative and eye-opening professional development seminar at the National Convention Centre which was attended by over 30 guests.

To top off the afternoon, the BDM of the Convention Centre, Michael Waters, gave our delegates a special all-access tour of the newly refurbished NCC.



For further information download a copy of Jeremy Garling’s Green Checklist or we’ve summarised below into our favourite top 10 tips!

With thanks to:

1. Start in your office – make sure you recycle paper and reduce waste in your own work area – then move outside the spectrum to the events you are working with.
2. When tendering for events, ensure you outline your commitment to the environment and that the client has the choice of making the event a low Co2 option.
3. With travel procedures, supply shuttle buses to and from your event to the nearest public transport hub or main hotels and ensure minimal empty seats by closely monitoring attendance numbers.
4. Reduce the amount of printed promotional material.
5. If you must print, then use 100% recycled paper, make sure it’s double sided and produced on the minimal size – if it’s for promotion or signage try not to use dates so you can use it again
6. Pick venues carefully based on their green policies.
7. Ensure all equipment at venues are turned off when not in use. Exhibitions are a major source of excess power by leaving equipment on overnight.
8. In catering selection, make sure to see a Green Policy and ask to reduce disposable products where possible – such as use glasses instead of water bottles!
9. Where you can’t reduce waste, recycle or reuse, then make sure you offset your omissions.
10. Educate people! Informing your attendees and clients of why you are taking these environmental initiatives means others can learn from it.