Johnny Allen is the Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management (ACEM), a centre devoted to training and research in event management at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Mr Allen was Special Events Manager for Tourism New South Wales from 1996 -1998, where he devised and implemented an Events Strategy for the State of New South Wales on behalf of the State Government.

Prior to this, Mr Allen worked as Special Events Manager for the Darling Harbour Authority, and currently teaches the Master of Management in Event Management programs at UTS.

Since his role as CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympic Games, Sandy Hollway has provided high level advice to other events around the world. These include the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics, the 2012 London Olympics, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) series of conferences in Australia 2007.

Prior to joining SOCOG in February 1997, Mr Hollway has been an Australian diplomat, Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Hawke, and Head of two Commonwealth Government Departments - Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs; and Industry, Science and Technology.

Mr Hollway is passionate about promoting the export of Australia's world-class products and services in major events and sports. He is a Senior Advisor to the Australian International Sports Events Secretariat, and he has led delegations of Australian companies pursuing business opportunities in major events overseas.

• International Olympic Committee (IOC) Environment Adviser
• Winner, UN Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement, 2001, for Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Environment program (Manager).
• Member, IOC Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games of 2008 (in 2000-2001); 2012 (2004-5); 2014 (2006-7); and 2016 (2008-9)
• General Manager (Executive Office) , SOCOG - Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (1995-2000). Member of SOCOG Board (1993-5)
• Expert advisor to International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and Athens 2004 Games.
• Founding member, IOC Sport and Environment Commission, (1995 - 2002)
• Senior Adviser (Environment, Indigenous Affairs, Sport) to Australian Federal Environment Minister (1987-1990) and Prime Ministers Hawke and Keating(1990-95)
• Board Director, Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World (1995-2003)
• Member, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Advisory Committee, Sydney region.(2004- )
• Founding Chairman, Australian Himalayan Foundation (2002-
• Advisor, Yothu Yindi Foundation/Garma Festival
• Member, Fred Hollows Foundation - wrote Seeing is Believing (1993), story of Fred Hollows and his work,
• Co-author, Events that Shaped Australia (2006). Author, Kakadu; A Heritage for the Future (1986)
• Member, First Australian Mt.Everest Expedition, 1984

A highly respected event designer, producer and marketer, Steve Brown has a wide range of events to his credit in most states of Australia. Steve is a member of the International Festival and Events Association, a founding member of the international Event Design Research Network, and of the Event Education and Research Network Australasia. Steve is Head of Tourism at Flinders University and is responsible for the Event Design and Management programs there. He is internationally recognised in the field of event design research and practice and frequently consults as the ‘event doctor’ to organisations, festivals and events across Australia and, most recently, in Sweden. He has written many articles and chapters for a number of international event texts and published his own text book on Event Design in 2009.

David Churches has been involved in the Major Event industry since 1988. After his extensive role in the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games (1988-2000) he has provided technical and strategic assistance to many major events including the Athens 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Doha 2006 Asian Games, the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Sydney 2008 World Youth Day. David also worked on the Paris 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid and has contracts to work on the London 2012 Olympic Games. He is also principal technical advisor to the Tokyo Olympic Bid committee and was awarded the Golden Olympic Rings by IOC President Samaranch in October 2000.

Bob is currently the President of FIBA, the World Governing Body for basketball. Bob has had a long involvement in the sport as a coach, a founding director of the NBL and as FIBA Oceania President.

In 1991 Bob was appointed General Manager of the Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Company. After helping secure the 2000 Olympic Games, Bob was in charge of the smooth running of all aspects of the 28 sports.

After the conclusion of the 2000 Games Bob was appointed to the Olympic Evaluation Commission by the International Olympic Committee and has acted as a consultant to the organising committees of the Beijing 2008 Games and the London 2012 Games.

Since 1987, David’s company, David Grant Special Events (now reborn as DG3), has entertained the rich and famous at corporate and private events from Sydney to New York. David has been MEA’s “Australian Special Event Organiser of the Year” a record 10 times and was the first event company inducted into their “Hall of Fame”.

David works extensively throughout the world, particularly in the United States on events such as SuperBowl, the NBC New York “Upfronts”, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit tour. David has also produced the VIP and Sponsor Hospitality for the International Olympic Committee and numerous US TOP sponsors for a record 8 Olympic Games and is currently in pre production on the 2012 London Summer Games.

This international experience gives David a unique insight into global event trends and keeps him at the cutting edge of event production throughout Australia.

Jenny is the immediate past president (4 years) of the West Australian based Events Industry Association of which she has been on the Board for the past 10 years. Jenny lived and worked in the UK, organising events and exhibitions throughout the UK, Europe and parts of the US prior to setting up Happenings Events Management in her hometown of Perth 17 years ago as a fully serviced event management and function co-ordination provider to corporate, state and local government.

Jenny has moved towards more strategic, large out door festival style events in the past 8 years which include launches of mines in the remote regions of WA, large public building and establishment openings.

Jenny is the recipient of a Premiers Award for her contribution to community events.

Peter Jones has been creating Special Events for over 25 years. Since its inception in 1991, Peter Jones Special Events (PJSE) has produced over 1000 events both in Australia and overseas.

Peter and his team have been the recipient of 23 Meeting and Event Industry Awards, culminating in their induction into the Hall of Fame in 2005 for best Special Event Organiser.

Peter is a regular contributor to the events industry by speaking at conferences and recently having been President of the Melbourne Chapter of the International Special Events Society. Peter is also a board member of Destination Melbourne and Chairman of the Victoria Events Industry Council.

Glen has a background of over three decades in the theatre and entertainment industries. He is the only Australian qualified as a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) for life. The George Washington University and the International Special Events Society bestows this title.

Before starting his own company in 1981 (Lehman & Associates), he worked for both Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet, developing their successful promotional and marketing campaigns.

Over this time Glen has worked with many of Australia’s leading companies and organisations helping them to plan and organise positive motivational outcomes for their social function, conferences, launches & training events.

Cameron Little has 16 years experience across a range of environmental engagement, enducation and improvement activities in the Tertiary Education sector, Government organisations and consulting for festivals, conferences and public events. Recent research surrounds technologies and systems to optimise resource recovery for events to minimise landfill.

Cameron is currently part of a working party to develop a new Australian Standard for Sustainable Event Management based on the international ISO 14000 series and the British BS 8901 Sustainable Event Management standard.

Andy Lopez started Out There Productions in 1996. With his business and creative partner Andrew Bee, OTP has produced a range of spectacular major events around Australia.

Andy has a serious passion for major public celebrations – he loves producing events with a purpose, and the bigger the crowd the better. Often working in front of audiences in the tens and hundreds of thousands, Out There Productions’ events are seen and enjoyed by over 300,000 Australians every year.

Andy recently produced the Opening Ceremony for the World Masters Games at the Olympic Stadium. He is currently producing the Australia Day Spectacular in Darling Harbour and the National Australia Day Celebrations in Canberra.

Jennifer is the Member Services Manager for the PCO Association and has over 20 years experience in the meetings and events sector, having managed more than 150 events including business events, community events, and special events.

Jennifer was one of the first conference managers in Australia to be accredited by the Meetings Industry Association of Australia. Jennifer’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from the University of Southern Queensland; Certificate IV in Training & Assessment; Diploma of Tourism (Operations).

Jennifer also has extensive Association Management experience, having held the position of Branch Executive Officer for the Queensland & Northern Territory Branches of Meetings & Events Australia for 9 years prior to joining the PCO Association.

John Moore is a globally recognised specialist in consumer and brand marketing. His career highlights include Head of Marketing for the highly successful Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where he was responsible for the image and identity of the Games, the marketing and sponsorship programs, and created new benchmarks for retailing and merchandise - The Sydney 2000 Olympic Stores. John previously worked as Vice President for Warner Bros Consumer Products Asia Pacific division, Deputy Chairman of the TTF Board and has had a long and successful association with the tourism industry. John joined Global Brands in 2005 in a welcome return to the big event brand marketing and retailing world.

Nick Morris is the Managing Director of MGAC Accessibility Consulting based in Melbourne. Nick is a member of the Gold medalist "Aussie Rollers" at the 1996 Atlanta. As a consultant in the building, medical and events industry Nick's experience includes providing expert advice to:

• International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
• Co - author of the IPC Accessibility Guidelines
• 1996 and 1997 Australian Grand prix
• 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games
• 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics
• 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympics
• 2016 Rio Olympic Games bid
• 2011 Rubgy World Cup in New Zealand

Nick has also appeared on the ABC's New Inventors as a judge and as the inventor of the Vulcan Wheel.

In his role as Executive Director of the Adelaide Tourism and Convention Authority (1991-1995), Bill Spurr was responsible for a dramatic rise in the promotion of Adelaide as a convention venue and tourist destination. In 1995, he became the General Manager of the newly formed Australian Major Events group with the agenda of attracting significant sporting and cultural events to South Australia, and promoting their benefits within the State. With 30 years experience in the tourism and hospitality industries, Bill Spurr is currently an adjunct Professor of Tourism at Flinders University. He is also Chair of Education Adelaide and a Board member of the Adelaide Entertainment Centre; The Adelaide Festival Centre Trust; Sealink Travel Group and the Adelaide Fringe.

Penniless muso turned roadie, Meri Took started the first ever crewing service in Sydney in 1978. Meri toured the world for many years with the cream of rock royalty including Neil Young, Elton John, INXS, The Police, Elvis Costello and Cold Chisel in Lighting and Production Management Roles.

Meri was Technical Director and Designer for the launch of the Apple Macintosh in Hawaii in 1983, and has since worked on thousands of corporate events. He is known for his vast experience, his staging of successful events, exceptional project management skills and a matchless attention to detail. His Australian production company, Production Techniques, was a ground breaking industry leader in the late eighties.

In 1990 Meri identified a gap in the Australian market for rental theatrical drapes and stage risers. Starting with a dozen drapes, some second hand risers, and a strong commitment to service excellence, Staging Rentals was born.

Staging Rentals & Construction Services is a multi awarding winning company renowned for its results. With the motto, ‘you’re only as good as your last gig’ Meri’s dedication to creating spectacular events for happy customers has never changed.

Graz van Egmond has headed the Banksia Environmental Foundation (BEF) for 11 years. In that time, the Banksia Environmental Awards have grown in stature to be acknowledged as the “Oscars of the Australian Environmental Industry”. The key to this success has been Graz’s ability to develop solid relationships with key players in the industry from Government, not for profit organisations and most importantly various corporations.

Prior to joining BEF, Graz was involved in the Small Business Awards, the development and implementation of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and the inaugural Australasian Incentive and Meetings Expo.

Graz has a keen interest in taking the environmental achievements into mainstream Australia and providing positive encouragement through getting the right people together, developing a common vision and inspiring action.

Pamela Wheat has created and produced hundreds of events for up to 8000 guests for opening ceremonies, themed parties and awards nights.

Formerly an Advertising Agency Television Producer she has produced events for the past 25 years for corporations, and national and international associations. Following 14 years as Producer of Special Events at ICMS Australasia, she became General Manager of Directions Events, with major clients being high end corporations. She has attained the CSEP (Certified Special Event Professional), been a guest lecturer for the UTS Events Management courses, and served on the board of ISES. Pamela was responsible for the management and production of the 2009 & 2010 NSW Tourism Awards, and was Executive Producer of the 2011 Awards.  She currently works as a freelance consultant. 

Barry has been a tourism & arts administrator and festival & event director for more than 40 years, 23 of those as the Director and CEO of the Ballarat Begonia Festival in Victoria. Having recently retired (after 12 years) from the District Council of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, he continues to be involved in a private capacity in the cultural tourism and events industry.

Barry represents Australia on “The President’s Council” of IFEA (International Festivals & Events Association) and has been actively involved with IFEA since 1984. In 2000 in New Orleans he was inducted into the International Festivals & Events Hall of Fame and in 2003 on the Gold Coast was awarded Life Membership of IFEA. In 2007 he won the SA State Tourism prestigious Harry Dowling Award for Individual Contribution to the State’s tourism industry.

In 1992, Barry was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to tourism, festivals, the arts and community. He was the Founding Chair of both the Victorian and South Australian Festivals Associations.

Eric has many years of expertise in creating and building new business ventures internationally in Europe, the UK, China and Australia. His passion and expertise lies in building winning strategies and business results with leading-edge companies in the delivery of major international events.

Eric currently leads business-related projects for major sporting events including Olympic Games, Asian Games and signature events in Australia. He manages the Sydney operations of the Australian International Sporting Events Secretariat for Industry & Investment NSW, taking a principal role in marketing Australian events capabilities internationally. Previously he was Business Leader for the successful Sydney-Beijing Olympic Secretariat.

In 1997 Eric designed and managed Investment 2000 Pty Ltd, linked to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, which generated millions of dollars of new business investment into Australia.