The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is promoting opportunities for lifelong careers in the events industry in a new campaign, 'a career for life', launching on Global Exhibitions Day (#GED18), 6 June.
A career for life tells the stories of 10 industry professionals who have found a home in business and consumer events – by design or by chance. The 10 individuals profiled in this campaign are:
- Libbie Ray, general manager/co-owner, AV 24/7
- Stewart Buchanan, managing director, Clever Event Technology
- Nick Vanzetti, managing director, ESL Australia
- Stephanie Bleakley, marketing manager, Diversified Communications
- Guy Blomberg, Global Gaming content director, ReedPOP
- Christine Kotsis, business development manager, ExpoNet
- Craig Mather, onboarding specialists, Ungerboeck International
- Dean Forrester, head of technology and innovation, Asia Pacific, Informa Australia
- Millie Heslop, operations manager, Exhibitions and Trade Fairs
- Brittany Monaghan, event planner, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
EEAA chief executive, Joyce DiMascio (pictured), said the campaign, targeted career advisors, teachers, parents and students and was the next step in the association’s active agenda to feed the employment pipeline and ensure the sustainability of the sector over the long-term.
“The association has been proactive in both advocating for better skills and training policies and developing initiatives to attract and retain talent to the sector. This includes working with partners to develop programmes that help to attract entry-level employees, skill-up staff already working in the sector, exhibiting at careers expos, and recognising and rewarding talent with our own Young Stars Program and Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award,” Ms DiMascio said
DiMascio added: “With UFI’s focus on skills development and careers in the sector for this year’s Global Exhibitions Day (#GED18), it is a fitting time to deliver the next phase of our campaign targeting school leavers.
“We wanted to bring the opportunities for rewarding careers in the sector to life for young people. These stories, told by younger people working in events, demonstrate just how achievable a great career can be, whatever their background, interest, skillset or qualification. We hope it will help open their eyes to the diverse, and often unknown, professions and skillsets needed to create an event – everything from logistics and operations, to AV, technology, marketing, and back-office functions – and inspire them to consider pursuing A career for life in business and consumer events,” said DiMascio.
A career for life is just part of a comprehensive programme of activity the Association has planned for #GED18. The association calls on the industry to get involved and show its support for the global initiative.
“GED is an important time for the industry to stand united in advocating the diverse and significant Power of Exhibitions,” Ms DiMascio said.
A career for life campaign materials include a video and booklet, which will be launched to the industry at the Association’s upcoming events aligned to Global Exhibitions Day in Sydney on 6-7 June.
For more information on how to get involved in #GED18, visit www.eeaa.com.au
