  
I believe one of the most satisfying aspects of being a CEO is to be part of the strategic planning process of the organisation and following many of the plans through to fruition.
It has been a great pleasure to see this occur in two very integral areas of MEA’s growth into the future. The first being MEA’s granted status as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), with the ability to deliver industry relevant training and education through to the Certificate IV in Sales and Marketing and also the Diploma in Event Management. This is the way for MEA to provide many more member benefits into the future, assisting with the skills shortage, and ensuring our industry is an educated one.
Two years ago the National Council of MEA also decided that MEA  required another sector within its membership being Y MEA (Young MEA). Y MEA would provide an opportunity for our younger members to meet, learn from and network with one another. The success of this initiative has been overwhelming in each state and territory of MEA operations and certainly an area we can all be justly proud. In October 2007 Virgin Blue came on board as the national sponsor of Y MEA, assisting this group grow further into the future. Our thanks to Virgin Blue for their foresight in recognising and supporting the benefits of this wonderful initiative.
Y MEA is an exciting initiative for young industry professionals (under 27 years of age – the Y Generation) to meet industry colleagues and start the next networking generation!
With Y MEA committees working hard in each state, stay tuned for launch events in WA, SA, ACT and TAS coming soon.
Successful events in QLD, NT, VIC and NSW have shown that these eager 27 and under industry members are keen for their next chance to network with one another. Recently, NT heard from Vicky Spence AFMEA, Vicky Spence Event Management and Treasure Gordon, Desliens Conference and Event Management, on “Experience life as a PCO”. Y MEA participants joined at Conrad Jupiters in QLD with Michelle Bordignon from I Am Events sharing her industry knowledge. VIC launched Y MEA with “Speed Meeting” at The Pub at Crown and NSW Y MEA’s were put to the test with 80’s and 90’s trivia with some industry knowledge questions thrown in at the Bavarian Bier Café.
MEA is pleased to acknowledge Virgin Blue as YMEA National Sponsor.
MEA QLD conducted a Professional Development Seminar in Cairns in October. Jason Thomas AFMEA, from QUT Events, presented “Top Tips in Excel and Outlook” to this group of enthusiastic MEA members at the Sofitel Reef Hotel Casino.
Linda Gaunt, CEO of MEA, was the special guest at the ClubMEA “Cocktails and Canapes” networking event at the 6 Degrees Bar at the Hilton Cairns in October. Ms Gaunt updated MEA members and guests on the many significant achievements, projects and events MEA has undertaken nationally over the past year.
 
As you already know, the next destination for the MEA National Conference is going to be Alice Springs. “The Alice” is the centre of our country and as one of the locals informed me on my first trip there, is only two hours’ (flight) to any beach in Australia.
Alice Springs is a very special place not only due to its amazing landscape and unforgettable nature but also due to the hospitality of the local people. Everywhere we went we were received with great enthusiasm and kindness. It was very interesting to note how proud the locals are of their town and how everyone in our industry works together and helps each other.
The conference program is going to include a wide range of topics covering different sectors of our industry. The program committee is working hard to ensure that all delegates will be able to walk away well-informed and inspired. So don’t forget to put May 9 to 12, 2008, in your diaries now (for those of you who have not done that yet).
Please visit the MEA website for more information on conference registration and sponsorship opportunities. www.meetingsevents.com.au.
The Qantas Group recently launched a carbon offset program backed by a pledge to offset the carbon emissions of every international and domestic Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar flight on the first day of the program’s operation.
The Fly Carbon Neutral Day involved almost 950 flights carrying over 100,000 passengers across the group’s worldwide network. Qantas has paid to offset the equivalent of approximately 40,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases associated with these flights.
Under the new carbon offset program, Qantas and Jetstar passengers may elect to offset their share of flight emissions by making a small contribution through qantas.com and jetstar.com. An online calculator assesses data about the flight sector and automatically advises customers of their emissions and the cost of offsetting them.
All contributions will go towards Australia-based Greenhouse Friendly™ approved abatement programs, which may include energy efficiency measures, generation of renewable energy and tree planting projects.
In addition to its carbon offset program, the Qantas Group is committed to driving improvements in fuel efficiency as a world leader in the development and application of technological innovation.
Additional information is available at qantas.com and jetstar.com.
2008 is a New Year to celebrate achievements, success and reflect on the passing year. It is also the time to submit an entry in the 2007 Meetings & Events Industry Awards by closing date of January 30, 2008.
The Meeting and Events Industry Awards are the premier accolade of the best industry management practice and outstanding performance in the Australian meetings and events industry.
“As national winners of the Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Conference Support Products category for 2004, 2005 and 2006, Execugifts was thrilled to be inducted into the MEA Hall of Fame.” Said directors of Execugifts, Teresa and Allan Dawson. “The winning of these awards has been fantastic for Execugifts and has proved that our promise to be ‘committed to excellence’ is not merely a company slogan but has been recognised by our industry as a statement of fact. Our colleagues and clients know that winning these awards is no small achievement, let alone achieving Hall of Fame status and it has definitely opened doors for us.
“We have found that the very process of entering the awards is a most worthwhile exercise in its own right, requiring you to undertake close analysis and scrutiny of every aspect of your business. “Winning these awards has brought about a significant increase in staff morale, with our valued team appreciating the very important role they have played in helping us achieve the excellent results which have led to these awards”.
For further information, categories, and to enter go to www.meetingseventscom.au/awards or contact awards@mea.org.au
A new program of 10 Master Classes will be held at AIME 2008, the 16th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo in Melbourne on February 19 and 20.
Held in a specially designed-theatre adjacent to the exhibition, AIME Master Classes will feature an impressive line-up of local and international speakers who are experts in their field.
MEA is presenting two AIME Master Classes, one on technology entitled My Space, Your Space, Head Space and another on the generations called: Y Aren’t They Talking to Me.
Facilitating the technology panel session is the entertaining Ms Megabyte who will introduce Toby Travanner from The Learning Company, a professional corporate trainer who will geek you up!
Joining Toby is Daniel Branik, IT director from Tour Hosts, one of Australia’s leading conference management companies. Mr Branik will update you with the latest technology trends from around the world and give you some take-home tips on using technology at your next event.
If your workplace is a generation jungle then the other Master Class is a must. Join YMEA mentor Carolyn Josephson from Crown Limited facilitate and introduce generation expert Peter Sheahan and events industry guru David Grant of David Grant Special Events who will explore the challenge of the generations, provide some case studies and give you tips on getting the best outcomes.
 AIME Master Classes can be booked online, but remember, you must register for AIME first. For the full program and registration visit www.aime.com.au.
This is my last
column as Chair of MEA and I write this with very mixed emotions (no more late nights and panic attacks trying to find a good angle or an inspiring story to share) yet I will miss the camaraderie of the Board and the close working relationship I have had with our amazing MEA staff.
However, it is time to move on and pass over the baton to others at a time when MEA is enjoying record membership and attendance at events and is certainly poised to leapfrog to new heights with the recent application for RTO status being confirmed.
As I reflect on the past two years that I have had the privilege to serve as Chair, I depart with a great sense of pride of how much we have achieved. Our national conference goes from strength to strength as professional development and networking events in the branches grow in popularity and relevance. We have made an enormous contribution to BECA and have aligned ourselves strongly with the three business events trade shows in Australia (AIME, AEE and RSVP) thereby increasing our profile as the leading industry association. At every turn, MEA is there providing relevance for members and ensuring we are consistently and sustainably implementing the many plans we have for the future.
I would like to thank MEA’s many sponsors without whom we could not hope to provide the level of service and benefits to members, award winners and scholarship winners. We are fortunate to have a number of mutually rewarding partnerships both nationally and within individual states and our aim has always been to deliver a return on investment which judging by the length of some of our sponsor contracts we have certainly achieved.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work and leadership of Linda Gaunt our CEO and all our hard working MEA staff around the country as well as my fellow Board Directors and members of the National Council and wish you well as we enter such an exciting phase. I look forward to seeing as many MEA members as possible at our national conference in Alice Springs this May which from what I have seen so far will be yet another memorable and exciting event.
Best wishes,
Annabel Davis AFMEA
Chair
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