Delegate Connect appoints industry leader to drive event stakeholder growth across APAC

Melbourne-based virtual and hybrid event specialists, Delegate Connect, has recently appointed Bernadette Panton, as Head of Industry Engagement in the APAC region.

Panton will be based in Melbourne and will engage with Delegate Connects and events partners globally. Her role will support the company’s expansion into international markets, both within the APAC region and through Europe, the UK and North America.

Coming from her previous position as Talk2 Media and Events’ Hosted Buyer Manager for Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Events, Panton is well equipped to drive partnerships and event stakeholder growth across the Asia-Pacific region.

This is the Melbourne-based company’s second key hire in as many weeks after Delegate Connect engaged James Morritt to lead their UK and European business development.

Delegate Connect Managing Director, Jordan Walsh welcomed Panton to the fast-growing business noting “the future of events is hybrid and virtual, and the industry is responding rapidly to that change.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Bernadette to our team and look forward to deploying her formidable talent and experience in our mission to create the future of events, today.

“Bernadette is held in universally high regard across the Asia-Pacific meetings, incentives, conferences and events ecosystem and she will be uniquely placed in this role to drive the transformation of our industry as the world shifts to hybrid and virtual events.” 

Panton said that she had joined the company because of the growth and promise of the hybrid and virtual events sector in a post-pandemic world highlighting “our industry has seen rapid and irreversible change over the past year and our shift towards a hybrid, virtual and digitally enabled future has been accelerated dramatically.

“Delegate Connect is the company creating that future, not just here in Australia but globally. Their technology platform allows us to create events that are engaging, enriched and profitable, opening new possibilities for the entire events ecosystem.

“Having the opportunity to work for the global leader in hybrid and virtual events here in Australia is a privilege and I look forward to supporting the continued expansion of Delegate Connect as the company transforms the events industry.”