2010
Sandra Chipchase – CEO, Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau
Sandra Chipchase – CEO, Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau
Sandra Chipchase has had an outstanding career in tourism and Business Events acquisition, marketing, major events, sponsorship, business development and asset management.
Key Achievements
Sandra held several senior management positions with the Australian Tourist Commission in Frankfurt, Chicago and New York where she delivered record results
Created the strategy that lead to Sydney being named No.1 Convention city in the Asia Pacific – 6 years before the Olympics.
Wrote and delivered Australia's first multi-million Olympics VISA sponsorship deal.
Served as Board Director on MEA National Council for many years, worked on many MEA sub-committees, mentored other MEA members and served as Chair of the National MEA Conference held in Townsville.
Sandra was headhunted and left the Sydney Bureau to take up the position of Executive Director of the record breaking Australia Pavilion project team at World EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany.
On her return to Australia she introduced new branding campaigns and created new festivals and public events for The Rocks and Darling Harbour precincts, initiated commercial programs for Rugby World Cup.
As an Executive Director at Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Sandra ran asset and property portfolios and management agreements for the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Her Division generated around $AUD 90 million in revenue each year.
Devised MCVB's award winning CSR Sustainability agenda and world first on-line delegate tool initiative as well as the rejuvenation of the AIME trade show.
Member of editorial team that wrote and compiled the National Business Events Strategy for Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson AM MP.
Past President of Best Cities Global Alliance and Australian Association Of Convention Bureaux (AACB), TTF Board Member, Enterprise Melbourne Advisory Board and member of the Federal Government's National Business Event Strategy Implementation Group.
Sandra currently leads the award winning team at MCVB that has won more than $830 million in business for Melbourne's new Convention Centre.
Sandra has recently been appointed to the Federal Government's National Industry Advisory Board to oversee the development of the new $20 million Business Brand for Australia.
2009
Leigh Harry, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Leigh Harry, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Leigh is the President, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), President, Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), Deputy Chairman of the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB); member, Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) and Member, Tourism Australia Business Events Industry Advisory Panel. He is also a Past National President of the MEA.
In his day job Leigh is Chief Executive of Australia’s largest convention and exhibition centre. The newly opened multi award winning 5500 seat Melbourne Convention Centre is the first facility in the world to have obtained 6 star green star environmental rating. The Centre is the key part of a $1.4 billion redevelopment of Southwharf a major new precinct within inner Melbourne. The Centre is the result of a $400 million investment by the Victorian State Government and the City of Melbourne in the Business Events industry.
2008
Geoff Donaghy, Cairns Convention Centre
Geoff Donaghy
Following a long involvement in Queensland's tourism industry, in 1994 Geoff Donaghy was appointed as Managing Director of the Cairns Convention Centre, Australia's first such international standard facility to be established outside a major capital city.
From its successful opening in 1996 the Cairns Centre has continued to receive regular global accolades and it was acknowledged as the "World's Best Centre" in 2004 by the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC).
Geoff then also oversaw, as its CEO, the 2003 opening of the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, now widely recognized as one of the world's top rugby venues.
Both facilities are operated by leading venue management specialists AEG Ogden, and as their Group Director Convention and Exhibition Centres Geoff is now involved with major project development in the Asia Pacific, India and Middle East regions.
This includes responsibility for the Darwin Convention Centre which opened last year, and the Qatar National Convention Centre under construction in Doha.
In 2005 Geoff was elected as Chairman of peak national body, the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA), and in that role has been instrumental in furthering the profile and advancement of both the organization and the industry. This has included overseeing last year's development of the $20B industry's first comprehensive, long term blueprint in the National Business Events Strategy.
He has served on several other boards including Meeting & Events Australia, both of Queensland's tourism and major events corporations and was an inaugural director, and then chairman, of North Queensland's world heritage rainforest management authority.
Roslyn McLeod OAM, AMM, AFMEA, founder and MD of Tour Hosts, attributes the award to the unfailing support she gets from the teams in her Company who support her. Roslyn has become a global industry name through her Board involvements in MEA, ICCA, IAPCO & INCON plus her many speaking invitations in over 20 countries where she shares her experience and knowledge. She thrives on achieving success for her clients, company and suppliers and is thrilled that MEA bestowed this award on her.
2006
Elizabeth Rich, NSW, Agenda Pty Ltd
Elizabeth Rich, NSW
A member of MEA for over 30 years, Elizabeth Rich managed the association during its formative years. As executive director of the Business Events Council of Australia, she uses her passion and knowledge to lobby on behalf of the industry, in addition to her industry training and consultancy work. A regular on the Asian circuit, in 2007 she conducted training programs in Sri Lanka and Taiwan and manages ICCA's annual AIME Forum.
She writes, talks, trains, lives and breathes meetings. Elizabeth passionately believes in the power of face to face communication.
Following a long involvement in Queensland's tourism industry, in 1994 Geoff Donaghy was appointed as Managing Director of the Cairns Convention Centre, Australia's first such international standard facility to be established outside a major capital city. 
Roslyn McLeod OAM, AMM, AFMEA, founder and MD of Tour Hosts, attributes the award to the unfailing support she gets from the teams in her Company who support her. Roslyn has become a global industry name through her Board involvements in MEA, ICCA, IAPCO & INCON plus her many speaking invitations in over 20 countries where she shares her experience and knowledge. She thrives on achieving success for her clients, company and suppliers and is thrilled that MEA bestowed this award on her. 
A member of MEA for over 30 years, Elizabeth Rich managed the association during its formative years. As executive director of the Business Events Council of Australia, she uses her passion and knowledge to lobby on behalf of the industry, in addition to her industry training and consultancy work. A regular on the Asian circuit, in 2007 she conducted training programs in Sri Lanka and Taiwan and manages ICCA's annual AIME Forum. 
