judgingback
The awards are judged by an independent panel of judges who are representative of all areas of the industry by sector and by geography. Members of this panel choose to contribute on a voluntary basis and will remain entirely separate from the ownership structure of the awards.
The panel is led by Peter Rix and new members are added regularly. Register for Updates so we can keep you up to date on new judging appointments.
If you would like to offer your industry knowledge and experience as a member of the Industry Judging Panel, please contact us with a summary of your experience and the category that you would like to judge. If a vacancy exists that may be suitable then we will forward your information to the Co-Chairs of Judges for a decision.
All members of the Panel must be approved by the Co-Chairs of Judges, who consider the skills, experience and balance of the Panel as a whole. Any decision to not accept an application is therefore not a reflection on the quality of the applicant.
The integrity of the Industry Judging Panel is of paramount importance and, with this in mind, all Judges are required to abide by terms and conditions covering confidentiality, conflicts of interest and the conduct expected of Judges.
The Industry Judging Panel is independent from the production and management of the Australian Event Awards. Members of The Epic Team, the management company appointed to project manage the Event Awards, may not hold a position on the Industry Judging Panel. For more information on the rules and governance, click here.
Peter Rix is a pioneering Australian artist manager and acclaimed event and theatrical producer. Peter Rix Management was founded in 1972 and over the ensuing 20 years managed the careers of Marcia Hines, Jon English, Richard Clapton, Mark Holden, Hush, Billy Field, Sharon O’Neil and Anne Kirkpatrick amongst others. 48 platinum, 53 gold albums and 35 gold singles were awarded to artists managed by Peter.
Peter has produced a number of iconic Australia events, commencing with the Variety Club’s annual ‘Carols by Candlelight’ concert at Parramatta stadium, Hoadley’s ‘Battle of the Sounds’, the ‘Rock Eisteddfod’ series, the 2SM 1979 ‘Concert of the Decade’ on the steps of the Sydney Opera House and the Narara Music Festivals at Old Sydney Town along with Rugby League Grand Final entertainment and State of Origin matches. There were bicentennial activities in 1988 and the Sydney Olympic Games live sites in 2000, along with a growing client base of Australian corporations as well as the 2007 APEC Leaders Conference for the Federal Government. He was a board member of the National Film and Sound Archive from 1990 to 1995 and chairman of the Federal Government’s Contemporary Music Summit held at Parliament House in Canberra in 1995. Peter helmed the APRA Music Awards for 36 years from 1988 to 2024 and has been the co-chairman of the Australian Event Industry Awards since 2019.
However, it is Peter Rix’s initiation, creation and chairing of the ARIA Music Awards, in collaboration with his music industry colleagues, from its inception in 1986 and for the following 14 years, that is his lasting legacy.
The George P. Johnson company (GPJ) of Detroit, Michigan purchased PRM in 2004 and for 14 years Peter was managing director then chairman. GPJ became the leading event and experiential organisation in Australia with clients including Toyota, IBM, Amazon, SalesForce, Oracle, Optus and Woodside. In January 2018 Peter resigned from GPJ and returned to the world of creative live experiences.
The Australian Event Awards recognised Peter in 2011 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019 he was awarded an AM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and after 53 years continues to manage the career of Marcia Hines. He is also the creator/producer of a number of globally successful theatrical productions including ‘Velvet’, ‘Pigalle’ and ‘Aretha’.
Every new day is an adventure and every new opportunity an iron in the fire!
Stacey is the Director and Co-Owner of The Project Crew, an accomplished Event Project Management company delivering events for major brands and corporations around Australia and Asia Pacific. Stacey has over 20+ years within the events industry from working with a Global Production Company to Co-Director of The Project Crew. Her focus lies on Business and Corporate events, from their conception through to completion, with a demonstrated deep understanding of event design, production, contractor management and project delivery. Stacey has had the honour of working beside numerous Prime Ministers, Politicians, top ASX CEO’s and Global Identities and has a strong presence across Australia with key clients positioned in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Stacey is a current Board Member for the Sunshine Coast Council Major Events Board which supports the regions investment in new and existing major events, is a member of Qld Tourism Industry Council and has previously held positions as Chair of the Sunshine Coast Council Working Group and the Sunshine Coasts Events Industry Task Force.
Peter Jones is one of Australia’s leading event producers, creating and designing special events for over thirty years.
Based in Melbourne, Peter and his team have been the recipient of over thirty-five Meetings & Events Industry Awards, including induction into the Hall of Fame in two separate categories – Special Event Organiser and Public Event of the Year.
In 2010, Peter was awarded the International Special Events Society Michael Milburn Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2012 he was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award by the Meetings and Events Industry. Only a few years later in 2016, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Event Awards, also receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Lord Mayor for twenty-five years of outstanding service to the major events industry in Melbourne at The Melbourne Awards.
In 2018, he was appointed as a Member in the Order of Australia at the Australia Day Honours for significant service to the tourism and hospitality sector. They particularly highlighted his involvement and influence as an advisor, in event management and to the community.
Peter has continually dedicated a great deal of time to representing and supporting the industry at many levels. He recently stepped down as Chairman of the Victoria Events Industry Council and as a member of the Victoria Tourism Industry Council. He was also a board member of Destination Melbourne, past President of the Melbourne chapter of the International Special Events Society and on the Tourism Australia Business Events Advisory Panel.
With an impressive work history spanning over 25 years across a wide range of organisations in the sport, major events and tourism sectors, Michelle has a proven track record of success in strategy, bidding, project management, operational planning and the delivery of major sporting events.
Michelle is currently a Principal at MI Associates, an Australian based global business who specialise in venues, events and advisory consultancy across Sports, Art & Culture and Tourism, boasting a clientele of the some of the biggest events and sporting organisations in the world.
Throughout her career, Michelle has been highly sought after for her skills in mega & major events. Michelle has held a CEO role delivering the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games and senior leadership roles leading strategic, project and operational planning for major international events including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006, Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002 and the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Michelle recently led Basketball Australia’s successful development and delivery of the FIBA 2022 Women’s World Cup candidature and bid. She also developed and led the Venue Selection process across 14 host cities in Australia and New Zealand for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Responsible for identifying and securing major events in Victoria, she developed Victoria’s Regional Events Strategy and is currently working with the IOC in Tokyo at the 2021 Olympic Games.
Paula is the Managing Director of Embrace Society which is a communications agency specialising in hard to reach audiences including CALD, Indigenous, women, youth, LGBTI, aged and disabled. Embrace Society is an acknowledged leader in values based behaviour change, community engagement, advertising and communications, and creative strategy and development.
Paula is a highly experienced and award winning strategist and communicator with a career spanning almost 35 years. She has held a number of senior positions including Director of SBS Radio.
Paula has extensive experience in developing highly successful communication strategies and broad experience in running social issues and community engagement campaigns in a diverse range of areas.
Paula has had numerous appointments to ministerial advisory bodies and sat on many boards including sitting on the Radio Advisory Group of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Chair of Sydney’s Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival and served for six years as a Community Relations Commissioner in NSW. She was on the National Women’s Advisory Council and shaped multicultural TV broadcasting as a member of the Ethnic Television Review Panel. Paula has been a Breast Cancer Network of Australia Media Ambassador and participated in the Field of Dreams.
Paula presently chairs many Waverley Council committees including the Arts and Culture Committee, Public Art Committee, RAP Committee, Multicultural ADvisopry Committee, and has close invovlement in the restoration of the iconic Boni Pavilion and the heritage listed Boot Factory which will be a centre of innovation including an Innovation Civic Town Hall for the community.
Penniless muso turned roadie, Meri Took started the first ever event 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 was Production Director for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Paralympic Games in Sept 2000. 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 was a multi-award-winning company with branches in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The business has now ceased operations and is being wound down, and Meri remains closely connected to the industry.
In 2015, Meri was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Event Awards.
Simon was Founding Director of Ways and Means Consultancy – a consultancy on events, bids, issues management, sustainability, Indigenous programs and has experience in organising dozens of community events. He is the Founding Chairman (2002-2023) , and was a Founding Director (2002-) of the Australian Himalayan Foundation and was a member of the successful First Australian Mt. Everest Expedition 1984.
His career has seen him be a journalist; author; trek guide; Ministerial and Prime Ministerial Senior Adviser, through to Board member (1993-5) and a General Manager at SOCOG (1995-2000); as well as Senior Adviser and Executive Editor/Writer for the successful Tokyo Bid for the 2020 (now 2021) Olympic Games. Also,
Vicki brings over two decades of experience and expertise in events, project management and strategic communication.
She started her career in hospitality and event agencies in London before moving to Australia in 2010.
She has managed a diverse portfolio of events such as corporate conferences and roadshows, exhibitions, product launches and drive experiences, across industries including financial services, automotive, tourism and government.
Vicki was Senior Event Manager at Tourism Australia where she delivered the Australian Tourism Exchange, the Australian tourism industry’s largest annual business-to-business event for three years and is currently the Program Manager for the Australian Export Awards for Austrade (Australian Trade and Investment Commission). Now in its 62nd year, the Export Awards are a national program that recognise and reward the efforts of Australian exporters.
She is passionate about producing authentic event and brand experiences whilst also developing sustainable practices to affect positive change, helping our community walk more lightly on our earth.
Derrin is a globally recognised leader in immersive event design and production, with a career spanning more than 23 years across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
He has produced and led high-impact projects across Olympic and Commonwealth Games, FIFA and Rugby World Cups, United Nations ceremonies, and large-scale public parades and festivals, including Sydney Mardi Gras, White Night Melbourne, and Australia Day on Sydney Harbour.
Domestically, Derrin has collaborated with councils, state agencies, and arts organisations, including Belvoir, Riverside Theatres, and the Sydney Opera House. He also directed the Independence Day Ceremony for the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on behalf of the United Nations, and most recently co-curated the record-breaking NOOR Riyadh Festival in Saudi Arabia.
Respected for his ability to fuse creative vision with operational excellence, Derrin has worked with Cirque du Soleil, The Royal Ballet, Opera Australia, the New York Philharmonic, and the Democratic National Committee. He brings expertise in large-format multimedia installations, site-specific design, and event innovation.
He is currently the CEO of the Australian Events Industry Collective, a peak body advocating for national industry cohesion and recognition, and serves as General Manager of The Mandala Social, creating sustainable experiential concepts for festivals, brands, and cities. Passionate about disrupting the status quo, Derrin champions deeper public engagement through immersive design, cultural storytelling, and creative collaboration.
Rodney is a highly accomplished event producer with over 30 years of experience creating major cultural and entertainment experiences across Australia. He recently completed his fourth year as Project Director of Great Southern Nights, a NSW Government initiative supporting live music, delivering 1,000 performances by 2,500 artists across 300 venues.
In 2023, Rodney was appointed Project Manager for the inaugural Vivid Food, a new culinary stream within the iconic Vivid Sydney festival. He also serves as Vice Chair of Screenworks, helping develop careers for regional screen creatives.
Rodney previously led Parrtjima – A Festival in Light (2017–2019), a groundbreaking First Nations-led event transforming the Central Australian desert with light and storytelling. As Project Director for Vivid Sydney (2014–2015), he helped grow the globally recognised festival of light, music and ideas.
He founded Cambridge Events in 2000, producing more than 500 large-scale and boutique events. His standout projects include the grand opening of Fox Studios Australia, the Sydney Harbour Bridge 75th Anniversary, and Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Ultimate Australian Adventure’ Welcome Party. He has also created landmark public events for the NSW Government such as Breakfast on the Bridge and Sydney Harbour Island Hopping.
Scott is an accomplished global communications and events specialist, who has worked on some of the world’s biggest sporting and cultural events for more than two decades.
With work that has spanned Australia, Asia and Europe, Scott has provided strategic advice and operational support to sporting bodies and organising committees, as well as government agencies and departments.
He has led communication campaigns and operational delivery for some of the world’s biggest events including Olympic and Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup and Rugby World Cups.
A recognised crisis communications specialist, Scott has provided advice and solutions to mitigate risk, especially in the events industry. He is a strong believer that identifying issues and being prepared is foremost to a successful event.
Katrina is a global leader in communications, media, and marketing, with a career that spans over 25 years across Australia, Canada, France, Qatar, China, the UK, UAE, and Russia.
She has led some of the world’s most high-profile and complex global campaigns, including Olympic Bids and Games, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cups, UN Climate Conferences (COPs), and Asian Games.
Domestically, Katrina served as Head of Marketing and Creative Services for the City of Sydney for seven years, overseeing major public events such as Sydney New Year’s Eve and Lunar New Year. She also consulted with Canterbury-Bankstown Council on a three-year review and stakeholder engagement for the highly successful Ramadan Nights Lakemba event.
Renowned for her expertise in managing the intricacies of major events and multi-agency coordination, Katrina is sought after to help mitigate risk, protect reputation, and drive public engagement for major events.
She currently advises UAE-based Haddins Consulting and serves as the Oceania Development Lead for the World Karate Federation. Passionate about equity in sport, Katrina focuses on coaching and media training for women in sport across the Middle East and North Africa region, aiming to increase global participation and amplify the role of sport in shaping city and national profiles through tourism and international events.
Britta Decker is the Founding Director of Agentur Professional Conferences & Events, a full-service event management agency based in Darwin.
Originally from Cologne, Germany, Britta has lived and worked in the Northern Territory for over 29 years, building a dynamic career across music, culture, and major event production.
She began her NT journey in 1996 as the European Marketing Coordinator for the internationally acclaimed Aboriginal band Yothu Yindi, and was involved in coordination of the iconic Garma Festival of Traditional Culture from inception to 2009.
From 1999 to 2005, Britta led Music NT, securing long-term funding and founding the National Indigenous Music Awards.
Recognising the Territory’s need for high-quality event delivery, she co-founded Agentur Pty Ltd with business partner Marijana Tadic. Britta has since produced major cultural, corporate, and government events including the, 2019 Uluru Climb Closure Celebrations, Taste of Kakadu Festivals, National Indigenous Tennis Carnivals, and Darwin’s New Year’s Eve with Tones & I during the 2020 Covid Pandemic.
Her qualifications include a Graduate Diploma in Business (Marketing & Finance), and she is an award-winning event leader with deep networks across Indigenous communities, government, and media. Britta is also the Honorary Consul of Germany in Darwin and a proud advocate for culturally respectful event practices across Australia.
Dorothy, a globally recognised Art Curator and visionary Creative Strategist, is a true luminary in the world of art and culture. As the Founder and Director of Molten Immersive Art, she leads an exceptional collective of international experiential artists and researchers. With an impressive track record spanning over seven years, she stands as a foremost thought leader and innovator in the captivating realm of narrative-based immersive and interactive art. Her work seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology, artistry, and interactivity to craft experiences that are truly transformative, captivating both audiences and artists alike.
Within Molten Immersive Art, Dorothy spearheads a team of creative strategists and digital immersive experience designers. Together, they embark on projects that span the globe, collaborating on a wide array of initiatives, including festivals, government and brand activations. Beyond her professional endeavours, Dorothy is a fervent advocate for the arts, actively participating in various cultural committees and serving as a sought-after speaker at international events. Her impact has been widely recognised, earning her titles such as one of the “5 Most Influential Women to Watch in 2022,” a place among the “10 Most Influential Women Leaders of 2021,” named the #1 Female Art & Culture creator on LinkedIn in 2023 and the distinguished honour of being named Blooloop’s 50 Immersive Influencers of 2023.
Sebastian was formerly Managing Director of the National Folk Festival, Canberra from 2010-2013 – delivering four successful events and winning the Canberra and Capital Region Tourism Award for Best Festival Event in 2011 and 2012, a Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) Award for the 2012 festival media as well as a coveted Canberra Critics Circle Award for his programming and theming of ‘For the Fallen’ presented in collaboration with the Australian War Memorial for ANZAC Day 2011.
Sebastian was Director of the Queensland Multicultural Festival from 2006-2009 – delivering four highly successful events on behalf of Queensland Government, with an audience of up to 65,000 people.
He was also responsible for the Premier’s Multicultural Photographic Awards, Queensland Multicultural Awards, Diversity Rocks Education program, Diversity Writes Literary Event and Diversity Talks on ABC Radio.
Formerly Programming and Production Coordinator for BEMAC (Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre) from 2001-2005, Sebastian delivered many successful culturally diverse music performances at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, whilst garnering a broad knowledge and passion for ethnic music and cultural traditions from all over the world.
Sebastian is the founder of the ‘Culture Compass’ – working as a freelance producer and facilitator in the multicultural events and educational arenas.
Sebastian has served as a judging panel member for the highly-coveted national Australian Event Awards for the past eight years.
As Commercial Managing Director, APAC of Red Havas and Managing Director of Havas Blvd, Steve’s mission is to help strengthen and grow the Group within the APAC region.
Steve is a leading voice in the creation of insight-led PR, brand experience and sponsorship campaigns. His resume includes founding Havas Blvd, founding Chieftain Communications (acquired in 2014), leading Making Waves Australia and driving DDB Australia’s PR, experiential marketing and sponsorship division.
His ongoing mission is to create memorable and authentic brand experiences, that drive engagement and earned media. Steve frequently speaks at government and industry events and has been a judge at numerous industry awards…he’s also won a bunch of them along the way (Spikes, D&AD, AdNews, CommsCon, PRIA, B&T, SABRE, Clios, PR Awards Asia, AGDA, Mumbrella).
Steve has created campaigns for leading brands, including Toyota, Lexus, Nestlé, Samsung, Telstra, Tigerair, Coca-Cola, and eBay, to name a few.
Troy is the Group Creative Director at GPJ ANZ. With over 30 years in creative industries, his background ranges from television production and radio, to through-the-line advertising and experience marketing.
Troy has conceived and delivered a wide variety of successful campaigns with some incredible teams over his career, including 8 years of Sydney New Year’s Eve events, the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience touring exhibition for the Australian War Memorial, the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review Spectacular on Sydney Harbour, as well as major vehicle events and launches for Toyota, Mitsubishi, Ford, and Skoda.
Outside of the day to day, Troy is also a published author with Harper Collins Australia, has written songs for Sony Music and has won multiple international awards for scriptwriting.
Bill has worked in areas such as production, programming, site activation, placemaking and producing, on events and with companies, including: Company B Belvoir Street Theatre, Adelaide Festival of Arts, National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney Festival, Global Creatures, Australian National Maritime Museum, Erth Visual & Physical, Carriageworks, Destination NSW, Live Performance Australia, Barangaroo Delivery Authority and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
Dr Rob Harris is a former Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management, at the University of Technology Sydney where he also co-ordinated the Master of Management (Event Management). After leaving UTS in 2017 he established Event Training Australia which delivers event management education and training programs in Australia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Rob is a co-author of the texts Festival and Special Event Management and Event Management. He has acted as a consultant for a variety of organisations associated with the events field including Arts ACT, Events Tasmania, Events NSW and the Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Rob was a foundation director of the Festivals and Events Association of Australia, and presently serves on the editorial boards of the academic journals Event Management and the International Journal of Event and Festival Management.
Alana is the founder of Milestone Creative Australia, which specialises in strategy and marketing of major events, festivals, tourism, business events, creative industries and the arts.
Alana has been instrumental in the development and marketing of the largest and most prestigious major events, festivals, precincts, venues, destinations, arts organisations and corporates across Australia. Her 25 year career spans strategic planning, branding, event acquisition and development, tourism and destination marketing. She is passionate about the events industry and loves creating connections between brands and communities. She has a deep understanding of the role events play in creating inclusive, vibrant and shared destinations and communities and tourism and visitation outcomes.
Alana regularly delivers presentations and training to the industry on topics including strategy, tourism, marketing, ticketing major events, event acquisition, event development, social media and digital marketing. She is active in the industry, was on the Board of Directors of Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), an Associate of the Australian Marketing Institute and a member of International Festivals and Events Association and owns the ever-expanding Event Professionals Australia Facebook Group.
Darren is an international award-winning business communication professional who has been actively engaged as an Agency Head, Government and Corporate Advisor, Executive Producer, International Executive Projects Director, Experiential Marketer, Business Communication and Creative Strategist in the creative design and delivery of innovative and engaging live communication programs, strategic marketing, authentic brand experiences & integrated digital solutions for a broad range of clients.
Based in Dubai, schooled in Brisbane, skilled in Sydney, and matured in China, the USA and the UK – Darren delivers creative event experiences throughout the world for a curated portfolio of corporate clients and white-glove services on behalf of agency partners.
Notable projects have included major platform launches for both Microsoft and Oracle, design for WebSummit’s RISE Hong Kong, the Wall Street Journal CEO Summit Tokyo, Huawei product launches in Berlin, Nice and Barcelona, 65th Miss Universe After Party, the launch of the Manila Okada integrated resort, extended strategic consultations for Sky TV UK, eight successive years producing the President’s Club incentive series for EMC throughout Asia, and the staging of the APEC/CEO Summit Manila with over twenty heads of state in attendance including President Obama and President Xi Jingping.
Producing impactful live event experiences that integrate the live and the digital experiences, he is highly regarded for drawing on his great depth of business theatre fundamentals, strategic marketing expertise, targeted program design creation, eclectic styling senses, and creative storytelling – to achieve powerful results.
His work has been recognised with a number of international awards including Best Event Production, Best Social Event over USD75k, finalist in the Best Export category at the 2010 Australian Event Awards, and in 2013 won the ‘Markies’ Agency of the Year award. He has since served as an industry judge for a number of industry award programs including the prestige Australian Event Awards and is an expert member of the World Experience Organisation.
Following consults on COP26 (Glasgow) & COP27 (Sharm El-Sheikh) – Darren served as the overall Project Director overseeing the transformative design and successful delivery of COP28 on behalf of the United Nations and the government of the United Arab Emirates at the iconic Expo City Dubai. He is in demand for expert advisory and strategic consultation services to governments and corporations on the design, planning, delivery and post-event strategies of mega/giga events and deep immersive experiences.
Adam Lofthouse is the Head of Production at Rizer, where he oversees the technical, operational, and logistical delivery of some of Australia’s most high-profile and internationally recognised events.
With over a decade of experience spanning large-scale public festivals, luxury brand activations, and bespoke private events, Adam is known for his strategic leadership, meticulous attention to detail, and innovative approach to production. His work is defined by seamless integration of complex technologies, rigorous planning, and a deep commitment to creative collaboration.
A respected figure in the industry, Adam has built enduring relationships with leading suppliers and partners, enabling him to deliver exceptional results across a wide range of formats and environments. He is passionate about elevating production standards in Australia and mentoring the next generation of event professionals.
Hailey Mason is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Shift Corp, a BCorp-certified agency and three-time winner of Australian Public Event Management Company of the Year (2022–2024). With over 20 years of experience, Hailey leads a nationally recognised team delivering high-impact public events across sport, culture, and community—championing sustainability and innovation at every stage.
Under her leadership, The Shift Corp has delivered some of Australia’s most high-profile events including Red Bull Hardline, Sail GP Sydney, Delivery of SXSW Sydney, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sydney Harbour Bridge Unity Celebration. The agency’s current and past clients include Red Bull, Harley-Davidson, SXSW Sydney, Destination NSW, Sail GP, Reebok, Casio, Vans, Mito Foundation, Surf Life Saving NSW, North Sydney Council, and a range of local and state government departments.
Hailey is also the co-creator of Wingman, the event industry’s first AI-powered platform supporting over 1,000 specialists with streamlined contractor management, supplier database, centralised project hubs, training, and event documentation. Wingman includes Wingman Pro, a freelancer subscription service offering insurance and resources, and the Wingman IQ Store, a suite of AI tools for generating custom event plans and staff briefs in minutes.
Hailey has been a four-time finalist for Event Producer of the Year, and her work on The Bloody Long Walk—now a national series that’s raised over $28 million—continues to influence best practice in mass participation and sustainable events across Australia.
Abbie is a Company Director and Head of Production and Experience at Sight Agency, a Live Experience Agency with offices in Asia, Dubai and Australia.
Sight Agency has grown extensively over the past 3 years with a large suite of high value clients trusting the team with their event delivery across the world. As the Head of Production at Sight Agency, Abbie’s ability to guide the team in developing and delivering an incredibly unique and seamless live brand experience is second to none. An events specialist with more than 20 years experience, she has honed her skills leading teams delivering experiences globally across clients such as PWC, Hilton & Marriott Hotel Groups, Google, LinkedIn, Porsche and many many more.
Abbie is passionate about creating engaging, high impact live experiences for brands that wish to communicate to audiences in a creative way. Her ability to develop creative ideas along with skills in managing the multi-faceted production and logistical elements of large-scale events make her a sought after and highly skilled events expert.
Abbie has spent time living in China as well as the East Coast of Australia and now has a base in wonderful Western Australia with her husband, two small children, and an incredibly busy events and travel calendar!
Jodie Parker is a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO), specialising in conference and event management. She started Iceberg Events in 1996, and has worked all over Australia and internationally for associations, corporates and government in that time.
Jodie loves working closely with the client, finding out more about whatever their conference is about, and learning random things about industries that she never knew existed.
She has a husband and two kids, and she learned to play ukulele during COVID.
Wesley’s career has been marked by the delivery of world-class entertainment and captivating ceremonies that have entranced global audiences. Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence, Wesley’s expertise spans a diverse array of formats, budgets, and cultures, all refined through his successful execution of Ceremonies and Major Public Events.
Recently appointed as Head of Event Strategy & Delivery, Experience Melbourne at The City of Melbourne, Wesley continues to leverage his extensive experience to enhance Melbourne’s standing as a premier events destination. Previously, as the Head of Ceremonies & Programming at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Events & Entertainment team delivered over 30,000 performances across six months of programming, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the 50th UAE National Day Ceremony, engaging more than 24 million visitors, while skilfully managing complex budgets and operational constraints. His contributions also extended to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where he played a key role as Project Director for the Welcome to Qatar Ceremony, a dazzling spectacle on Doha’s iconic Corniche, that left a lasting impression on a global scale.
Wesley began his career in major events as part of the ceremonies team for the 18th Commonwealth Games Melbourne 2006. He continued to make his mark with contributions to White Night Melbourne 2017 & 2019, Ballarat 2017 & 2019, Geelong 2018 & Bendigo 2018, the 21st Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018, the 1st European Games Baku 2015, and the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006. Wesley’s remarkable expertise in managing ceremonies, programming, and events, coupled with his commitment to artistic excellence, continues to redefine the art of live experiences and create unforgettable moments in the world of extraordinary events and entertainment.
Dan Simon is Head of Creative at Imagination, a leading global brand experience agency. With a strategic and creative mindset, Dan excels at solving complex business problems through bold creativity. His unique background in Installation Art and Commercial Interior Design allows him to craft powerful ideas and transform them into world-class events and experiences while paying meticulous attention to the details.
Throughout his career, Dan has immersed himself in a diverse range of mediums, seamlessly integrating live, physical, and digital channels, making him a highly versatile creative. Whether leading projects or his team, Dan thrives on challenging conventions and pushing boundaries to achieve the highest level of creative excellence. Over the last two decades, Dan has delivered some of Australia’s largest, most immersive, and technology-led events and experiences for renowned global brands, including Telstra, AWS, Samsung, Australia’s Nationbrand, Volkswagen, The Australian War Memorial, The Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and many others.
Dan is passionate about exploring the boundaries of human experience and technology, in an effort to strengthen our evolving event industry, through heightened collaboration and innovation.
Chris is one of Australia’s leading Event Directors, starting his career with IMG and Red Bull, now in his 27th year in the industry. Chris is the co-founder of one of Australia’s leading public event agencies, The Shift Corp, representing global brands Red Bull, FIFA, Vans, Reebok, Vodafone, Harley-Davidson, KPMG, Suzuki, Canon, ANZ, and G-Shock, as well as multiple local and state governments around Australia.
The Shift is well known for its “Anything’s Possible” approach across the Sports, Arts & Entertainment, Live Brand Events & Content Special Projects, and Major Public Events landscapes. In recent years The Shift is proud to have been awarded:
2024 – Public Event Management Company of the Year
2023 – Public Event Management Company of the Year
2023 – Best Brand Event of the Year (FIFA Women’s World Cup ’25 Days to Go’ Sydney Harbour Bridge)
2022 – Event Management Company of the Year
2022 – Best Charity/Cause-Related Event of the Year
Previously the agency has also twice won Small Event Management Company of the Year, and Chris was nominated for Event Producer of the Year.
Chris is also the co-founder of the Wiingman event platform, a tech platform bringing the event ecosystem together to support our industry.
Domonique has a diverse and unique mix of experience spanning over 25 years in the strategic development and delivery of major events and creative brand experiences across the arts, government, tourism, nonprofit, sporting, and corporate sectors in the APAC region.
Her career includes more than 15 years in senior management roles, leading event agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand. Domonique’s experience spans high-profile events such as the inaugural Riverfire in Brisbane and major projects for international agencies including Jack Morton Worldwide, GPJ, and Imagination. She has been instrumental in delivering significant events for the Queensland and Victorian Governments, Brisbane Lions AFC, and various multinational corporations.
A collaborative event specialist with a passion for crafting authentic, purpose-driven experiences, Domonique’s notable achievements include serving as the founding Executive Producer of the Bernard Fanning Youngcare Benefit Concert and holding pivotal roles in events such as the Brisbane Festival, Festival 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and the Spirit of ANZAC Centenary Experience. Currently residing on the Sunshine Coast, she continues to work as a freelance Executive Producer.