Ruth Ellis lost her fight with cancer in February 2007. She fought with such determination during her battle and even though her pain was great, she maintained her positive outlook, grace and dignity and love for life and her family until the very end.
Ruth played a major role in the meetings and events industry, spanning a career of more than 20 years. Her industry life commenced as a corporate and leisure travel agent in the early 80’s and from here she joined Hilton Hotel Melbourne and from there moved on to Hilton Hotels Australia in the conference sales and incentive areas, positions she held for six years.
Next came a very happy period as director of sales and marketing at the World Congress Centre, as it was then known. Ruth was part of the opening team and she wore a number of hats during her three years which led up to the renaming of the centre to what we know today, the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Her next journey took her to ACCOR Asia Pacific Hotels as regional manager sales and marketing where she spent two years in the role as regional manager sales and marketing. This was followed by a short interlude as part of the pre-opening team for the Crown Promenade Hotel, Melbourne.
In 1997 Ruth established her own company – MEG Management. This gave her the opportunity to work for a number of industry venues including the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Hotel Sofitel Melbourne and her last position as business development manager for the Canberra Convention Bureau, based in Melbourne.
Her meetings and events industry history included being a past national councillor for MIAA (as it was then known) and director of education. It was during her time at the MECC that she was awarded the MIAA Sales Person of the Year Award two years running. She was also a past board member and executive officer of the Australasian Incentive Association and a past president of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association.
Industry education was her passion and she mentored many of the younger members of MIAA and MEA as we now know it. Ruth worked tirelessly for the industry whether it was in her paid or honorary capacity.
Her smiling face, her words of wisdom, and her effervescent personality made a difference to a room when she was in it. She was loved by all and is one of the greatest advertisements for the meetings and events industry in Australia.
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