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Late last year we sent out a call to the business events fraternity to tell us who has inspired them during their working life and why. We were specifically after people working in the business events or business tourism sector.
We could have created a list ourselves of people we believed to be inspirational but then reconsidered this approach. Our thinking behind doing this was for three specific reasons:
People are different and are therefore inspired by different things. Who are we to say that someone is inspirational? We might think so but maybe nobody else will.
We wanted to be surprised. We wanted to hear about people who we and some readers didn’t know too much about.
And lastly, a person who inspires others is probably blissfully unaware most of the time that what they do is or has been inspiring. We thought it would be nice for someone who has observed them “in action” to sing their praises independent of us or anyone else.
Naturally, time constraints are a factor for people telling us why they nominate someone in a request of this kind, and we thank all those who responded, big and small.
Everybody deserves to be recognised for their efforts, and some of these people highlighted over the following pages in particular, really are worthy of plaudits, praise and paeanism.
As well as those on the following pages we received nominations by name only for: Peter Jones, David Grant, Mike Williams, Sandra Passaro, Jennifer Barnett, Leila Fiedler, Roslyn McLeod and Elizabeth Rich.
ANNA GUILLAN – EXECUTIVE GM, SALES & MARKETING
VOYAGES
NOMINATED BY: LEEANN COLE
A true industry icon and inspiration, representing meetings and events on advisory boards for Tourism Australia Business Events and mice.net magazine, representing the future of Australian tourism and our industry as vice-chair, ATEC (Australian Tourism Export Council) and Southern Cross University Marketing Advisory Panel.
Anna is also dedicated to her future, currently completing an MBA. She was a past NSW Telstra Business Woman finalist and contributes to the community, in particular to cancer patients as co-founder with her great friend Nelune Rajapakse OAM, of the NELUNE Foundation. Nelune is a cancer patient who knows and understands the difficulties of being diagnosed with this illness. The NELUNE Foundation is a not for profit charity organisation. To date, more than $2 million has been raised by the foundation through such events as the Lilac Ball, one of the major charity dinners on Sydney’s social calendar, the Lilac Swim at Bondi Icebergs and many other fund-raising initiatives.
Anna is a true industry leader, an inspiration and mentor to her work and Australian tourism colleagues and a highly respected, loyal and compassionate person.
MARK CHARLES EVANS – GM
ROYAL ON THE PARK
NOMINATED BY: YASAR KHAN
My inspiration is my general manager Mark Charles Evans. Going back to 2001 when I permanently moved to Australia and was finding it very hard to find a job - with my masters degree in media production - and with my first baby on the way - I managed to get a job through a friend as a room attendant at Chifley on Lennons (then Country Comfort).
As you can imagine, even though it was a very humbling experience cleaning up after people, I was grateful and one day ran into our GM Mr Evans during my shift. I was unaware of who he was as it was his first day at the hotel - he actually quite nonchalantly gave me a hand with the rubbish bins and looked at my name tag and addressed me by my name.
To cut a long story short, I must have impressed him with my friendliness and attitude as the front office manager very soon afterwards offered me the job of a casual concierge. During this time of running around with guest luggage and parking cars I would often run into Mr E, who always addressed me by my first name, enquired about my well being, congratulated me on becoming a father and always mentioned that his door was always open if I needed to discuss anything.
When 9/11 unfortunately took place, and being a Muslim, maybe I got a bit nervous and maybe some people around me got nervous as well. But not Mr Evans. He called me into his office, told me a little bit about how great the Australian public was, how accommodating, multicultural and respectful - and how I had nothing to fear. I thought to myself, what a great ambassador for this great country.
I sadly left Lennons as I got offered a night manager position at another hotel in late 2003. My front office manager thought of it as a betrayal, but not Mr E. He called me to congratulate me and mentioned that it was a credit to the Lennons Hotel that I was equipped to move up the ladder. Having just bought a house, Mr E offered to organise some casual shifts at the front desk for me to help me out financially. I never forgot that.
Life went on and in 2004 I joined Royal on the Park and got promoted to the assistant financial controller’s position in March 2005. Our then GM resigned, and as luck would have it Mr E took over the reins of the place.
I have since then gotten to know him better as I also am in charge of HR at the hotel. The amount of time and effort and behind-the-scenes work Mr E puts in to get to know his staff better, to train them, to be fair to them, to boost their confidence is just amazing. I could not hope to work for a better person. Apart from that our hotel has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years and I attribute that to the inspirational leadership of Mark Charles Evans.
 KIM HESSE – MD
VENUES TO EVENTS
NOMINATED BY: Kaye Hesse
Kim Hesse, managing director and founder of Venues 2 Events, sounds like many other event managers who start their own business, however, this 25-year-old is an inspiration to people everywhere.
Always an organiser and perfectionist she started a double degree in science at university and soon found this wasn’t the direction she wanted to go. She wanted to help people in a positive way, help them have fun.
Being a natural-born organiser, event management seemed the perfect way of doing this. Kim chose an event management course at Holmesglen, participating in everything above and beyond what was required, volunteering and getting as much experience as she could.
Kim’s first job in event management was with Chefs on the Run, working with the team who launched their new division Seduction Catering which encompassed event management and catering as a whole package.
After working at Chefs on the Run for a year Kim became ill and struggled on for six months before completely collapsing and becoming unable to go to work. Kim was diagnosed with the debilitating and at that time very misunderstood condition chronic fatigue. At age 21 she found herself unable to work, to go out with friends, or on many days even get out of bed. While her friends were establishing themselves in their professions, meeting future partners and going out and having fun Kim was living in a world of pain, tests, doctors and hospitals. After nearly a year Kim found some wonderful doctors who discovered there were serious issues contributing to her chronic fatigue and her ultimate collapse. With their help Kim slowly started to improve.
Still unable to go back to work full-time Kim knew she had to find something that she could do, so an idea was born, to start her own business working from home. Her idea developed into the decision to start a venue finding service. During her better days she set about researching and struggled through a small business course. Kim officially started Venues 2 Events on December 1, 2005. She contacted venues and joined business networking groups and gradually started to build her business, and at the same time, due to her wonderful doctors and Kim’s determination, her health very gradually became more stable. Due to Kim’s passion Venues 2 Events very quickly became an event management company. The majority of her clients have been introduced through word of mouth referrals, people responding to Kim’s enthusiasm and love of what she does and her ultimate ability to organise their event to perfection. Kim’s first major event was the Chanel 31 National Community Antenna Awards. I remember standing with Kim during the countdown. “This is why I love event management. This is what it’s all about,” she said. Wherever she can she supports Holmesglen and William Angliss by giving students experience in events. Kim also speaks to students at Holmesglen whenever she can.
She is still not 100 per cent well; she still needs to be in bed early on most nights, takes her multitude of tablets and supplements and has intravenous Vitamin C and B injections. However, she never lets this stop her. Kim loves and believes in what she is doing and lives and breathes Venues 2 Events’ motto “Events With A Passion!”
BRYAN HOLLIDAY – MD
ICMS AUSTRALASIA
NOMINATED BY: GABRIELLE CAFIOS
I would like to nominate my boss, managing director of ICMS Australasia, Bryan Holliday.
Bryan is no doubt the best boss I have ever worked for. ICMS Australasia is like one big family thanks to Bryan. He is the most approachable boss as he is always happy and has such an optimistic outlook! He truly is an inspiration to all his employees.
Bryan does not believe in hierarchies and everyone at ICMS Australasia is treated equally. We all sit in an open plan office including Bryan. He never refers to anyone in the office as an employee but instead refers to us as his colleagues.
Bryan organises an incentive for ICMS Australasia employees every year. We all leave as a group and get wined and dined and stay in beautiful hotel rooms. These incentives are so motivating. It is quite nice to spend some quality “out of work” time with people you see every day but don’t really know too well on a personal level. We all come back to the office on such a high after these incentives!
I have worked for Bryan for a total of eight years. In 2006, I had a baby. Not only did Bryan visit me at home but he also allowed me to work from home for a year. Family and friends outside of work were amazed and said “no boss would allow you to work from home for a year, you are so lucky!”
I truly believe that the reason Bryan does not have a huge turnover in staff is because he is highly respected by his employees. Where else would they find a better boss?
NOMINATED BY: SUSAN GEIS
I have worked in the MICE sector for 25 years and have not known anyone to inspire me as much as Bryan. His dedication to the industry over the years is well known and he still has a passionate belief in the power of face to face meetings and the value of the spoken word. Although he is a man of great experience, he is still willing to listen to the other [side of an] argument and take advice from his colleagues and peers. He is willing to accept change and embraces advances in IT and procedures. I work back to back with Bryan in our cubicles and he inspires me to try to be a better person every day (more patient and understanding of people’s shortcomings). He was a pillar of strength (and fairness) through the de-merger [of ICMS Australasia and Event Planners Australia] but unfortunately I cannot speak about that.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Suellen Holland also sent in a nomination for Bryan Holliday as an inspirational person.
 
JILL MASON – MD
FACET MANAGEMENT
NOMINATED BY: Ruth Appleby
Jill is an icon of the Australian MICE industry and has been a mentor and role model to many over many, many years. Her industry credentials are numerous: Jill has almost 30 years of experience in the conference management industry and in the development and running of adult training programs. She is the managing director of FACET Management, a company which she founded in 1992. FACET has successfully managed a broad range of conferences and special events for corporate, association and government clients. They range in size from 25 participants to 1200, and in style from the VVIP Knowledge Management Conference for a major corporation, to basic association conferences on a low budget.
Before starting her own business, Jill worked with The Property Council of Australia (originally Building Owners & Managers Association of Australia), in many roles, and during her 10 years as director education and member services, she developed and delivered a series of residential training programs in shopping centre management and marketing, and in commercial property management. This was done in conjunction with property practitioners and the courses were developed as “hands-on” practical courses. Accreditation programs in these areas, involving both written and oral examinations, were also developed and conducted on an annual basis. This sowed the seed for the outstanding contribution Jill has since gone on to make in the MICE industry, setting standards, and being largely responsible for the education and accreditation programs we have today.
At the end of 2000, Jill closed down the Sydney office of FACET Management, moved to the Hunter region, and is now operating her business from there as well as helping husband Peter to establish a vineyard.
Jill became a member of the Meetings Industry Association of Australia (MIAA now MEA) during the 1980s, and very soon became involved at a committee level. She recognised a need for industry training and, together with a small group of practitioners, developed the first residential training program in conference management. Jill has remained committed to the industry and its education process, working tirelessly serving in many capacities, including:
Chairman of the NSW and national education committees; National education director; NSW president; Inaugural Chairman of the MIAA Admissions Board, responsible for the development and ongoing conduct of Accredited Members; and finally National President from 1998 to 2000.
She has been involved as an advisor or presenter to all of the MIAA training programs and has independently provided training to clients in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Korea. Jill has also been guest speaker at numerous conferences and has been guest lecturer on conference and special event management at many of the Sydney universities and learning institutions.
Since moving to the Hunter, Jill has further developed her career in MICE industry education taking on a part–time teaching role at both the Hunter and Central Coast TAFE campuses.
She is always available for advice and continues to work above and beyond on behalf of all her students and industry colleagues.
LOUISE RYBURN – MD
CELEBRITY SPEAKERS (NZ) LTD
NOMINATED BY: LOU NOWELL
I would like to nominate Louise Ryburn as an inspirational person. Louise has worked for Celebrity Speakers for six years and has worked her way up within the company (starting as a sales co-ordinator and then moving on to a sales consultant role, client relationship manager and finally managing director).
Last year we lost our special boss and company founder, Debbie Tawse, to cancer. Louise was very successful in taking over Debbie’s role - she had huge shoes to fill and had lost a mentor and special friend.
In our sort of business we are constantly inspired by speakers and kiwi’s who have achieved extraordinary things....we are inspired everyday by Louise and what she has achieved.
SONJA SODERBOM – MANAGER
TOUR HOSTS DESTINATION MANAGEMENT
NOMINATED BY: FIONA GRANT
When benchmarking an inspirational member of the Business Events community, there are few who can match the talent, enthusiasm, and warmth of Tour Hosts’ destination management department manager, Sonja Söderbom. Commencing her career at Tour Hosts in April 1999, Sonja has steadily scaled the ranks of the company, demonstrating proficiency in various departments as she moved towards her current position heading up one of its most successful divisions where she now manages a team of nine staff in the field of corporate incentives, social programs, and pre and post conference tours.
The unfailing support of Sonja’s team, peers, and clients is a true testament to the respect she commands not only within Tour Hosts, but also within the local MICE community. Her success can be viewed on two levels, namely professional and personal. In a professional sense Sonja is passionate about the wow factor of an event, and truly committed to providing her clients, often new to our country, with a lasting memory of their experience, their business relationship, and indeed, of Australia as a viable and attractive MICE destination. Further to this, she is a proud employee of Tour Hosts, and takes every opportunity to demonstrate this to her colleagues and clients. Sonja flies the Tour Hosts flag at every occasion, and as such she is inspirational and influential with respect to the mark she makes on the company’s own internal culture.
As a mother of two small children, Sonja defies the “glass ceiling” stigma of successful women in business. She balances full-time work and international travel with the pressing demands of family with grace and good humour, asking little of her employer and giving so much in return. As a company comprised largely of young ladies in their twenties, Sonja is a shining example of how career interests need not be compromised by the responsibility of being a parent, and vice versa. It is arguably she who has brought multimillion dollar corporate incentive business to Australia, and who even finds the time to volunteer once a month at Ronald McDonald House. A true inspiration!
ROBYN CAVE – CENTRE MANAGER
KARRALYKA CENTRE
NOMINATED BY: HAYLEY MILZ
I would like to nominate my manager as she is an inspirational person. Robyn Cave, centre manager of the Karralyka Centre is not just a boss but a person who makes her team want to come to work every day. For me she has been a mentor by helping my career progress and develop within the events industry. I began working in reception just over 12 months ago and I now manage staff and co-ordinate events within our theatre and function rooms. She saw potential in my work and recognised my abilities.
Staff development is very satisfying to Robyn and not only has she been a mentor to me but also inspired many of the 70 staff who work in various areas at the centre.
Robyn has been at Karralyka for almost three years and in that time has transformed the building and the business. Building relationships with local galleries to showcase artworks around the centre, working with the community to develop educational programs for youth and schools, and successfully managing to turn around large losses by making significant profits within our yearly professional Theatre Season Program [are part of what makes her inspirational]. The Karralyka Centre has been operating for more than 27 years and is an architecturally award-winning building that hosts up to 430 patrons in the theatre and over 550 in the function rooms. Karralyka is a member of the Victorian Association of Preforming Arts Centres and Robyn is a board member for the organisation.
She has a flair for business, an eye for detail and enjoys the odd joke. [She is] A fun loving business women who inspires her staff on a daily basis.
ALISON ROGERS – NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES
– CONFERENCES AND INCENTIVES
MILLENNIUM HOTELS AND RESORTS
NOMINATED BY: ANNETTE PENDERGAST
I’d like to nominate Alison Rogers, national director of sales - conference and incentives, Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
Ali’s energy levels are awesome. You will find her constantly travelling from one end of the globe to the other and then back again, just to ensure her product is represented and her message delivered well. And, despite the jetlag, Ali is there, presenting in a first-class fashion.
She carries a real passion for our New Zealand culture and it shows in the hospitality our visitors receive as guests when they arrive at a Millennium Hotels & Resorts venue. Every famil, event or sales call Ali is engaged in, is done with utmost professionalism.
Ali really showcases what it means to make our visitors welcome. She is often sought after by agents and clients when they come to Christchurch, knowing they will be warmly received, and often they just want to see her personally to say thank you.
Ali willingly shares her knowledge of the C&I industry with peers and yet is quite modest about her abilities.
DOUG JARVIS – EVENT CO-ORDINATOR
SKANDIA GEELONG WEEK
NOMINATED BY: WENDY JACKSON
I would like to nominate my boss Doug Jarvis who is inspirational not only as a person of great integrity, generosity and a genuine pleasure to work with, but is also innovative and forward thinking in the events industry. Doug is a perfectionist and uncompromising in delivering the best outcome for any client or event he is involved with. In 1995, as a member of the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Doug developed a visionary concept to transform two existing and struggling local events – a sailing regatta known in the yachting community as ANA Weekend run by the Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the Geelong Waterfront Festival run by the City of Greater Geelong into a super festival that would maximise a range of marketing, promotional and economic opportunities for Geelong. Doug prepared a mission statement and detailed strategy to revamp the format and in 1997 the “Festival of Sail” was born. The revamped regatta was an overwhelming success and the full potential became immediately apparent. The Festival of Sail continued to grow from 1997 to 2003 becoming a “must do” event for Victorian sailors. The original concept of one dominating super festival did not eventuate immediately and the two coinciding festivals resulted in an on-going struggle for sponsorship and status which hampered the development of both events. The Festival of Sail continued to be managed by Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the Geelong Waterfront Festival managed by the City of Greater Geelong.
In 2003 Doug undertook to try to correct the dual management of both events by travelling to Skandia Cowes Week in the United Kingdom, the world’s largest and most successful sailing regatta to evaluate the event and see what he could learn from it. Doug immediately recognised the synergies between the two events.
Doug then entered into prolonged negotiations with Skandia, Royal Geelong Yacht Club and the City of Greater Geelong to create the new super festival that has now become Geelong’s premier annual event. He successfully negotiated a four year contract between Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Skandia and the City of Greater Geelong.
Doug was successful in his negotiations with Victorian Major Events through Sport and Recreation Victoria signing a major funding agreement starting with the 2007 event for a period of three years. Following this successful negotiation Doug was able to secure a further four year sponsorship contract for Skandia to retain title sponsorship status until 2011.
Doug took a great personal financial risk and started his business to follow his vision, and worked countless volunteer hours in conjunction with the paid role of co-ordinator from the very start. The early years were a great struggle financially with a young family to support, however Doug’s vision, passion and commitment to the sport of sailing, the community of Geelong and the Royal Geelong Yacht Club ensured that he did not deviate from his original vision regardless of the time, energy and personal sacrifice required. He has created for Geelong the region’s iconic event that has given a national and international profile for the local tourism industry and has added an estimated economic benefit to the region of $12.5 million.
ANNETTE PENDERGAST – MANAGER
CHRISTCHURCH & CANTERBURY CONVENTION BUREAU
NOMINATED BY: DEBBIE ROXBY & METKA CONLAN
We would like to nominate Annette Pendergast of the Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) as an inspirational person in the business events industry.
Annette has been in the industry for 25 years including positions as a travel consultant, sales in hotels and then managing her own PCO business in Sydney for 13 years, expanding to open offices in Melbourne and Brisbane.
After moving to Christchurch five years ago with a view to retire from the industry she was subsequently head-hunted to manage the Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau.
She was on the Board of Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) for at least three years (possibly four). She manages three staff members, and with a keen knowledge and strong background in business tourism, is a patient and encouraging mentor to her staff. Her dedication and passion for Christchurch is unequalled.
[She is] Always thinking of creative new ideas and ways to market Christchurch, whether she’s in the office or relaxing with family on the weekend.
[She] Has been pivotal in creating a strong and cohesive C&I community in Christchurch; is well respected amongst industry peers, and looked up to as leader in the business tourism community.
Annette has been pivotal in bringing NZ Convention Bureaux together to collectively market their support services on a joint basis, i.e. by establishing NZCB website www.nzbureau.com. Annette holds the role of NZCB media liaison person, co-ordinating timings of regional placements with media and bureau and also media releases on behalf of NZCB. [She] Is the newly appointed chairperson of NZCB while continuing the role as media liaison. [She] Is looked up to as a leader in the industry, often called upon to provide advice and support.
JOANNA JORDAN – MD
J2 IDEAS & EVENTS
NOMINATED BY: AMANDA HIBBERD
After reading [your request for inspirational people], I knew I had to nominate my employer, Joanna Jordan. Not only has Joanna lifted the bar in the Queensland event industry and been involved in some of the most complex state events over the last four years, she is also a firm advocate for fostering and developing the skills of students and new industry members while also finding time to raise a family and contribute to a number of charity events. Phew!
In 1999, Joanna established Joanna Jordan Special Events (later to evolve into j2 ideas & events in 2005). Armed with one client on the books, a home computer, cordless phone and a sleeping baby nearby, Joanna has evolved her company into a creative and innovative hub offering creative direction, event management, entertainment negotiation, marketing and communication services Queensland-wide. j2 ideas & events is now based in Bowen Hills in Brisbane and employs two full-time and three part-time staff, has an impressive client list and a vision that is being realised. Joanna has contributed significantly to the Queensland events industry having been the manager – special events for the 2001 Goodwill Games. Since 2004 she has creatively directed Riverfire – Queensland’s largest annual public celebration, attracting more than 500,000 people to inner-city vantage points to view 30 minutes of spectacular fireworks. Joanna’s passion for turning ideas into reality is truly inspirational. As a member of Joanna’s team we are encouraged to strive for excellence through learning, sharing and welcoming innovation and creativity. The team is encouraged to not only learn from Joanna, but also from each other and the company’s partners. Sharing ideas and welcoming each other’s ideas and creative concepts (no matter how eccentric!) is also a critical component Joanna’s working ethos.
Joanna’s most recent catch cry is “if you’re going to think – you might as well think big”. She has engaged in a number of external mentoring programs to encourage the next wave of event students and industry participants to do just that – learn, grow and think big! Most recently, Joanna has been fostering the growth and development of future event management industry leaders through her teaching role at The Bremer Institute of TAFE. In 2007, the success and growth of Joanna’s business and her personal contribution to the Queensland events industry was formally recognised when j2 ideas & events was named the Telstra Queensland Micro Business of the Year.
 ANNABEL DAVIS – SALES MANAGER - INTERNATIONAL
SYDNEY CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
NOMINATED BY: ROSLYN MCLEOD
A wealth of knowledge and connections spanning many years in the industry and does not falter at giving of her time and energy for the industry, her employer and her colleagues. She has just completed her second stint as a MIAA/MEA president which is a personally time consuming commitment.
Annabel fights for her venue and her city and is always alert to bring new business to town. She is a consummate sales manager, considerate of her staff and both dedicated and passionate in her pursuit of success.
 KARINE BULGER – CEO
THE MEETING PLANNERS
NOMINATED BY: ROSLYN MCLEOD
Karine has been in the industry for over 10 years, starting as an event co-ordinator at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. She excelled as a conference manager at Tour Hosts then moved to Los Angeles where she established an Australian DMC sales office and then returned to Australia to manage The Meeting Planners.
Karine exemplifies female Gen X who travel, marry, become mothers and still keep an amazing business pace, thereby keeping skills and experience firmly actioned in our industry which is crying out for more talent like Karine.
Karine in less than two years has grown The Meeting Planners operations from a small team of 11 to an upgraded skills-base of 23 talented staff and implemented much-needed systems and services to upgrade the services of PCO operations and ensure clients receive the level of service expected by a professional service.
She motivates and cares for her team effectively and infuses her team with her own enthusiasm, passion and commitment that has clients really enjoying the interaction with her staff and delighted with their outcomes.
She is a true industry professional who has overcome the formidable challenges of transforming a business in need of strong review into the success it is today. She is to be highly commended for her fortitude and sheer professionalism and is a true inspiration to those who know her.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Karine was also nominated by Ian G Macreadie from the CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies.
GEOFF DONAGHY – GROUP DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION CENTRES
AEG OGDEN
NOMINATED BY: ROSLYN MCLEOD
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Geoff Donaghy was the FNQ or Cairns Convention Bureau executive director, but in a few short years he has accumulated corporate responsibility from the Middle East to Brisbane.
For someone who is already loaded with such an intense corporate responsibility he devotes his time effectively to BECA [Business Events Council of Australia]. The role as Chairman has demanded meetings with politicians and industry hierarchy, particularly in the lead up to the federal election, to championing the issues and demands for the business events industry. Geoff has campaigned tirelessly with support from Elizabeth Rich and others and he has personally written many submissions and attended many meetings.
He has represented us personably, professionally and established a credible image for our industry, and [secured] good relations with many in influential positions.
Geoff should also be complimented on his good nature, quick wit, humour, and intelligent approach to issues which is why he is probably such a strong facilitator who allows for discussion and is inclusive, listens well and makes things happen. Despite his load he seems to be available and is fairly accessible. Well done Geoff - you are an inspiration!
Mercure is the first hotel brand to fund offsets on behalf of their meeting clientele. This means the cost of keeping your conference carbon neutral is covered by the hotel, who will ensure that greenhouse gases produced during the meeting are offset by funding efficient energy sources, at no further cost to you. For conference clients, this factor dispels the myth that being environmentally friendly is an expensive exercise.
Mercure has teamed with the Carbon Reduction Institute to streamline the carbon offsetting process. The Institute’s Carbon Calculator determines the amount of carbon emissions created by a conference, and calculates an amount of credits to be purchased from emission reduction projects or carbon trading schemes. Each credit represents a reduction of emissions equivalent to 1 tonne of CO2 and is registered through the New South Wales Greenhouse abatement scheme.
Offsets will go directly back to projects such as the replacement of inefficient lighting and technologies with more efficient products, and replacing the use of electricity with natural gas in both domestic and commercial capacities. In addition, 10 per cent of all revenue collected from the purchase of these credits is donated to CleanUp Australia in support of their clean up our climate program.
The eco-factor is not new to the Mercure brand however. All hotels in their portfolio across Australia follow Accor’s global environmental charter with 20 priority actions identified to reduce energy and water consumption and improve waste management and recycling.
Supporting the carbon neutral initiative, ‘Mercure Meetings’ offers three other promises – Healthy Food, Service and Technology. Healthy food equals healthy minds and the nutritional conference room refreshments ensure more positive outcomes for your meetings.
Service is synonymous with the Mercure brand and the guaranteed same day response to conference enquiries together with a dedicated single point of contact throughout the organisational process of your conference ensures an unsurpassed level of service.
 Meeting facilities are fully equipped with hi-speed internet access and professional audio-visual equipment with flexible meeting room configurations to suit both small and large gatherings.
With the introduction of ‘Mercure Meetings’, hotels can offer environmentally focused conference groups with the complete meetings solution – a carbon neutral promise complemented by quality facilities and dedicated conference teams in 15 locations across Australia.
For further information visit www.mercuremeetings.com.au
RONNI KAHN
OZHARVEST
NOMINATED BY: THE TEAM AT MICE.NET
If Ronni Kahn isn’t an inspirational person then we’re not sure who is. We said that we weren’t going to nominate anybody but we were mighty surprised when nobody put Ronni’s name forward... and so we thought that we should.
OzHarvest was founded by long-time Sydney-based event producer, Ronni Kahn in 2004. Working in the events industry for around 20 years she would make a point of donating food left over from her events to the less fortunate. In July 2003 she decided she wanted to do more for charity and so travelled to the U.S. to study an American model of OzHarvest called American Harvest.
Since November 2004 OzHarvest has collected food from more than 450 donors and has delivered more than two million meals to 143 organisations feeding the hungry, needy and homeless. More than 500 tonnes of food has been saved from landfill as a result of OzHarvest’s work.
“I have two healthy children and I just feel so lucky,” she told mice.net a few years back.
“That’s really why I felt that I needed to do more. I came back from America in September 2003 and I started talking to people and telling them what we were going to do. Gaining support took a year. It took a year because from what I’d learned in America I realised it couldn’t be run on a volunteer basis. The reason people throw away food is because it’s actually easier. It’s a hassle after a long day to worry about packing it up and doing something about it. So I knew I had to make it really easy and efficient. I knew I needed funding because I knew that I needed an office, a telephone system, a driver, a van and someone to man the office. So I found a partner in Macquarie Bank Foundation and we launched in November, 2004. “In the first month we delivered 4000 meals, the next was 20,000. By April 1, 2005 we had delivered 103,000 meals. That’s 25,000 kilos of food that would otherwise have been thrown away. I just get so excited when I think about it.” Donations and assistance to Ronni and her team at OzHarvest can be made by visiting www.ozharvest.org.
 RHONA WALKER
MD
SOLUTION RED
NOMINATED BY: JOANNE CAMILLERI
I would like to nominate Rhona Walker, managing director of Solution RED as an inspirational person. What Solution RED has achieved in seven-and-a-half years is truly amazing and this has been all due to her passion for the industry.
Further to the collapse of Gearhouse, Solution RED was started with a small group of 10 full-time staff, and now the company in a very short time has 30 full-time staff, 70 freelance staff, and has recently expanded into new premises in North Melbourne, giving us three warehouses - one each for audio-visual, theming and production.
Rhona is also passionate about philanthropy – [she] sponsors 17 children in Bali, supports TLC, the Starlight Foundation and the Sacred Heart Mission. She is also the Chair of MEA so still finds time to contribute regularly to the industry.
 PETER MCCLOSKEY – MD
FRESHCATERING
NOMINATED BY: TRACEE SIMOND (NEE MCKENZIE)
“I look forward to your food every month!” A young man, about 17, manages to mumble these words while filling his mouth as quickly as possible with spaghetti bolognaise! Once a month (every month) Peter McCloskey spends time with Sydney’s underprivileged and shares a meal of spaghetti bolognaise.
It’s all part of Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Streets Program and freshcatering have a monthly booking in the kitchen to prepare the meal which is personally delivered to the Youth off the Streets van at Green Park, Darlinghurst.
“Of course, there is no commercial gain from doing this, but that’s not why we are here,” says Peter. “It’s about making people feel valued”.
Peter is often joined by freshcatering staff, friends and family for the monthly Youth off the Streets program. “It’s just part of what we do each month!”
Fresh as a company has a heart for the underprivileged. It is an important part of the company culture to be supporting of community projects, in addition to working with Father Chris Riley, freshcatering supports Oz Harvest and employs staff with disadvantaged backgrounds through Job Support and other programs. Peter says, “We are lucky enough to have so much, so it’s our responsibility to help those less fortunate! Fresh is constantly catering to the top end of the market, working with corporate clients who have plenty. But the satisfaction and gratitude is the same, whether we’re feeding a wealthy corporate client or a person who lives on the street…. At the end of the day it’s about feeding people!”
Not only is Peter McCloskey an inspiration because of the community work that he does and the lack of recognition that he enjoys, but he also manages to run freshcatering with dignity and ethics, whilst maintaining a successful and productive business!
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