EEAA launches webinars to gain industry insight on the return of in-person exhibitions and business events

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has advised it will be launching a sector by sector webinar series to provide an open exchange for industry to discuss the key issues specific to Venues, Suppliers and Organisers/Association Organisers.

EEAA Chief Executive Claudia Sagripanti notes “the current market conditions have created uncertainty with many companies experiencing impacted cash flow and decreased return on investment.  Our main focus for the sector specific webinar series is to draw out the deeper issues that need to be addressed and develop sector-specific strategies that will create momentum and aid in the return of in-person exhibitions and business events.”

Each session will feature a panel of key sector representatives, moderated by EEAA Board Members including Spiro Anemogiannis, EEAA President and Managing Director, Informa Australia; Brian Thomas, Managing Director, Reed Exhibitions Australia and Claudia Sagripanti, EEAA Chief Executive.

Venue update: 10th September 2020, 12:00 -1:15 pm AEST

•Simon Burgess - General Manager, Adelaide Convention Centre

•Adrienne Readings - General Manager, Gold Coast Convention Centre

•Peter Thorpe – General Manager, Sydney Showground

Supplier update: 17th September 2020, 12:00 – 1:15 pm AEST

•Chris Schlueter - Chief Technology Officer, Sprintr by AV1

•Jane Hamilton - Managing Director, Honeycomb Promotional Marketing Agency

•Jim Delahunty - Chairman, ExpoNet

Organiser/Association Organiser update: 1st October 2020, 12:00pm – 1:15pm AEST

•Domenic Genua - General Manager - Marketing, Events & Communication, Boating Industry Association

•Jane Ford - Managing Director, Exhibitions and Events Australia and New Zealand

•Marie Kinsella - Chief Executive Officer, International Exhibition and Conference Group

•Kate Smith - Chair, Meetings and Events Australia

Key topics for discussion include:

• COVIDSafe update and plans

• State by State restrictions

• Technology update post pandemic disruption

• Resourcing

• Government and commercial support

Sagripanti adds “the sessions will provide important input into the next stages of the EEAA Rebuild Strategy, currently being developed to rebuild the business events sector and the industry’s ability to deliver events across Australia, restore buyer confidence amongst key audience groups and to engage and retain talent in the industry.

“The business events sector contributes more than $35.7 billion to GDP, runs over 430,000 events annually and employs more than 229,000 people. The sector is a major contributor to Australia both financially and for its ability to expand marketplaces by bringing together buyers and sellers and offering a platform for launching innovation and new product.”

The EEAA released the first phase of the industry-wide Rebuild Strategy in July with the #ExpoReady social media campaign, designed to instil confidence and to communicate to exhibitors, associated businesses and the consumer that exhibitions are ready to open their doors, and to do it safely. The campaign is focussed on those states that are in a position to host events.  

The second phase - the COVID-19 Safe Operating Framework, was released last week. Organisers, venues and suppliers collaborated to launch the industry-wide framework outlining best-practice health and safety protocols that the industry can follow and incorporate with their own COVIDSafe plans to facilitate the safe return of business events.  

The EEAA has lobbied extensively to various State and Federal Governments and consulted closely with the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) as well as a range of industry associations to plan a response and recovery framework for the exhibitions and business events industry. More details on the Rebuild Strategy will be released shortly.  

Each webinar will feature a live Question and Answer element and the opportunity for open and frank discussion.

The sessions are free of charge for EEAA Members, $50 for three sessions for Non-Members or $20 for one session. Registrations are available here.  

Image top: Adelaide Convention Centre (Simon Burgess  General Manager, Adelaide Convention Centre will be participating in the Venue update Webinar on 10th September) and image above of #ExpoReady