EEAA promotes exhibition careers to school leavers

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has launched a social media campaign targeting school leavers to consider a career in the exhibitions and business events sector.

Following on from the EEAA’s successful ‘A Career for Life’ campaign that has been running for two years to attract and retain talent in the consumer and business events sector, the social media campaign is specifically targeting higher school certificate graduates as they consider their career options.

The social media vignettes are centred around the core message that ‘it takes all kinds of people with all kinds of skills to create an event’. The vignettes highlight the diversity of roles available, the many different job types and roles as well as the pathways for study into the events industry.

Spiro Anemogiannis, EEAA President and Managing Director, Informa Australia said: “EEAA has been proactive in advocating for skill development and training policies and creating initiatives to encourage young people to consider a career in the sector. This includes working with partners to develop programs that help to attract entry-level employees, up-skilling staff already working in the sector, exhibiting at career expos and recognising, mentoring and rewarding young talent.

“The EEAA Young Stars Program and our partnership with Tourism Australia on The Richard Geddes Young Achiever Scholarship Program have proved successful in encouraging talent under 30 in the industry.” 

The campaign, while primarily targeting school leavers is also aimed at school teachers, career advisors, parents and the wider EEAA community and aims to inspire more people to consider a career for life in the industry.

Mr Anemogiannis said the campaign is important because business and consumer events are key drivers in Australia’s economy. An EY study estimated the industry contributed $28 billion in direct expenditure, $13.5 billion in direct value-add and 179,357 jobs to the Australian economy.