Records, referrals and reconnections

Regular readers of the ICMSA newsletter will know that our best method for assessing our own performance is to measure ourselves against client and industry feedback. The calendar year 2023 was exceptional in this regard.

Client feedback led to 10 new referrals of business for 2024 from existing clients. We received three awards from Meetings and Events Australia for Legacy Event of the Year, Government Event of the Year and Platinum Event of the Year. We were also named both the PCO of the Year and Event Management Company of the Year at the Australian Event Awards 2023.

It is said that recognition is a great motivator and this is true, but I would say that we don’t work for recognition, rather that the work we do is worthy of recognition and so these awards are a testament to that philosophy.

This year has been one of company records: the most number of events delivered, the highest amount of sponsorship and exhibition funds raised, as well as attracting a record number of delegates to the events we managed. Plus, we also achieved a Guinness World-Record for the largest diamond structure built at the International Union of Crystallography Congress!

We could not have achieved this success without the partnerships we nurtured. A special call out to the Convention Centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, the hotel chains Accor and IHG and also to all of our suppliers, especially Exponet, Encore Event Technologies, Creative Hire, Harry the Hirer and Prideaux Entertainment Solutions.

In this year particularly we rekindled relationships that were lost during COVID and for that I am proud that we have played a part in the recovery efforts of the Business Events Industry.

I am often asked to mirror ball the future (as we do have 40 events confirmed out to 2027), and specifically to the prospect of attracting delegates to Australia for the long-haul trip, as well as our domestic market prospects. Frankly, the outlook for the industry has never looked brighter. Early Career Researchers and Students are looking for professional development activities like never before. Companies that support events have renewed budgets. Finally, the very reason for convening and sharing new knowledge and advancements across a whole range of sectors is stronger than it has ever been. The magnetic call of conferencing signifies travel, freedom and connection. This craving will intensify, not diminish, in a world filled with digitised possibilities.

And so with this bright forecast, I’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Warm wishes,

Emma Bowyer

ICMSA wins big at Australian Event Awards 2023

ICMS Australasia (ICMSA) celebrated a huge achievement at the Australian Event Awards in September this year, being named both PCO of the Year and Event Management Company of the Year.

ICMSA was also a finalist in the Best Congress or Conference 500 Delegates or Over category for its management of the 26^th World Mining Congress in Brisbane in June.

Now in their 15^th year, the Australian Event Awards are an opportunity for event professionals to be recognised across all areas of event management.

Award judges said of our entry: “Truly outstanding effort – to generate that volume of quality work off the back of the pandemic is awe-inspiring – massive congratulations.”

Earlier in the year ICMSA won three awards at the Meetings and Events Australia Awards for Legacy Event of the Year, Government Event of the Year and Platinum Event of the Year.

We recognise that conference and event management is a team effort and we are so grateful to all of our clients and our wonderful suppliers for their on-going support.

New business wins for ICMSA

It’s been a big few months for the ICMS Australasia Business Development team with confirmation of new business out to 2027.

ICMSA has been confirmed as PCO for the Association of School Business Administrators for its Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Northern Territory conferences in 2024 as well as events including:

• Australian Rare Lung Disease 2024 (Sydney)
• Options for the Control of Influenza 2024 (Brisbane)
• Thoracic Australian and New Zealand Society 2024 (Melbourne)
• Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy 2024 + 2025 (Adelaide and Brisbane)
• Oceania Tobacco Control Conference 2024 (Gold Coast)
• 52^nd Congress of International Association of Hydrogeologists 2025 (Melbourne)
• International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction 2025 (Melbourne)
• 27^th Symposium of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society 2025 (Melbourne)
• International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress 2025 (Brisbane)

Our long association with the paediatric conference Don’t Forget the Bubbles will see the 2024 event being held in Christchurch for the first time.

Deserved recognition for melanoma pioneers

The ICMS Australasia team was thrilled to hear Co-Medical Directors of the Melanoma Institute, Professor Georgina Long AO and Professor Richard Scolyer AO, were last month jointly named 2024 NSW Australian of the Year for their life-saving work.

Their partnership has saved thousands of lives from melanoma through immunotherapy treatments.

ICMSA had the pleasure of working with the pair on the last Australasian Melanoma Conference in 2021 and with Professor Scolyer on the XXXIV International Congress of the International Academy of Pathology in 2022.

We were also saddened to learn of Professor Scolyer’s news in June 2023 that he has been diagnosed with the brain cancer Glioblastoma and commend him on his brave decision to undergo experimental treatment based on his and Professor Long’s successes with melanoma.

Our hearts are with Professor Scolyer and we hope that he and Professor Long will be named joint Australian of the Year in January 2024 for their on-going work and dedication.

To learn more about Professor Scolyer’s journey click here.

ICMSA becomes a BEIA Approved PCO

With the opening of our Christchurch office in March 2023 and the appointment of a strong team, ICMSA has been working hard behind the scenes, recently receiving BEIA Approved PCO status by Business Events Industry Aotearoa, the premier New Zealand meetings industry organisation.

A BEIA Approved PCO must meet certain criteria to ensure they have the necessary systems, skills and experience required to run events. The criteria sets the bar high and were designed so that only those who meet them can call themselves a BEIA Approved PCO.

A BEIA Approved PCO is bound by a Code of Ethics, Rules and Responsibilities as determined by BEIA. This means that clients and suppliers can be assured that they are dealing with a consummate professional who will bring years of experience and knowledge to ensure the event is a total success.

The Director’s Cut: Suellen Holland

In the sixth in our series on ICMSA Directors, we talk to ICMSA’s Executive Director Suellen Holland, one of the company’s longest-serving staff members.

Click here to read Suellen’s story.

When Experience Matters

ICMS Australasia manages projects from concept through to final audit, providing expertise in attracting delegates, sponsors and exhibitors; budget and cash flow control, business and scientific program development; information, presentation, communication and staging technology, creation and delivery of social and recreational activities and accommodation. From idea generation to post event evaluation we provide expertise, creativity and a healthy respect for the financial bottom line.

If you are interested in bidding for an event in Australia or New Zealand or need help with an event already confirmed, pick up the phone or send us an email.

Please feel free to call or email Emma Bowyer.