Warning: Undefined array key "eblast" in /home/epicteam/public_html/eventawards.com.au/wp-content/themes/event-awards/post-template/template-enews.php on line 6
Simon Balderstone AM to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award during Australian Event Awards Ceremony 2023 – Event Awards
Tourism Australia for their work on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017 - 2017 National Winner: Best Achievement in Marketing, Communication or Sponsorship

Simon Balderstone AM to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award during Australian Event Awards Ceremony 2023

The Australian Event Awards is the national awards program for the events industry. It is the only opportunity for event professionals to compete directly across the nation and across all facets of the Industry to establish which are Australia’s best events and event-related goods, services and innovations.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is aimed at recognising great Australian event industry figures that have made significant contributions to events in Australia.

In 2023, Mr Simon Balderstone AM has been handpicked by the Co-Chairs of the Judging Panel as the exceptionally deserving recipient of this prestigious Award.

Simon Balderstone AM is the Founding Director of Ways and Means Consultancy – a consultancy on events, bids, issues management, sustainability and Indigenous programs. He was the Founding Chairman (2002-2023), and is a current Founding Director since 2002 of the Australian Himalayan Foundation. He was also a member of the successful First Australian Mt. Everest Expedition 1984. Simon has also been a long time Judge on the Australian Event Awards Judging Panel.

Simon’s career has seen him a journalist; author; trek guide; Senior Adviser (Environment, Indigenous Affairs, Sport, Olympic liaison, policy and strategy) to Prime Ministers Hawke and Keating (1990-95) and Australian Federal Sport and Environment Minister (1987-1990); Adviser to the International Olympic Committee (2001 – 2011) on Sustainability/Environment, Sport for All, and Editor/Writer as well as Senior Adviser and Executive Editor/Writer for the successful Tokyo Bid for the 2020 (now 2021) Olympic Games.

Simon’s extensive involvement with the Olympic games include:

  • Founding Director, Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Board (1993 – 1995)
  • Advisor/writer for senior management, London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. (2007-2012)
  • Member, IOC Sport for All Congress Program Committee (2007-12)
  • Expert consultant (projects) to Organising Committees for Rio Pan American Games; Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Rio 2016 Games (2011- Consultant, Environment/ legacy planning)
  • Writer– Start-up Manual for Sport for All projects,events (Social Sustainability) for IOC
  • Author, IOC Case Study: “Sydney Olympic Park: A Planning legacy case study”.
  • Expert advisor (Sustainability/Environment) to IOC Coordination Commission for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and Athens 2004 Games.
  • Member, IOC Evaluation Commissions for the Olympic Games of 2008 (in 2000-2001); 2012 (2004-5); 2014 (2006-7); and 2016 (2008-9) and 2018 (2010-11)
  • Winner, UN Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement, 2001, for Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Environment program (Manager)
  •  Assistant to the Mayor of the Olympic Village, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
  • General Manager, Executive Office SOCOG – Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (1995-2000) – including establishment and management of Environment (“Green Games”), Executive Office, International Relations, Government Relations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Affairs.

He was also Strategic Adviser, Media Coordinator to the Garma Festival (2002–2012), Advisor/Executive Editor/Writer (Environment-Sustainability-Legacy – Bid Book editorship) for the successful Tokyo bid for 2020 Olympic Games, and for Medellin bid for 2018 Youth Olympic Games (2011-2013).

In 2007, Simon was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours for his service to environmental protection and Indigenous affairs, to the Olympic movement, and to the community through organisations providing health, education, cultural and development assistance services.

The 2023 Australian Event Awards National Winners, including Mr Simon Balderstone AM, will be announced at the Event Awards 2023 Ceremony on Wednesday 13 September 2023 at The Highline Venue, Bankstown NSW.

The gala awards night will celebrate the past 12 months of hard work, commitment and dedication to the events industry.

Tickets to the Event Awards Ceremony are available for purchase at www.eventawards.com.au/awardsnight