The Symposium is full of engaging content in a practical format, designed to ramp up towards the Australian Event Awards ceremony at the end of the day.
The Event Symposium will bring together leaders in the industry from some of Australia’s biggest events and festivals as well as offering a variety of sessions exploring the latest event trends, communication techniques and creatively enhancing events.
Mr Matt Carroll AM has been Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee since March 2017 and is a director of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia. He is also a Board Member of the Australian College of Physical Education.
Matt is widely considered one of Australia’s most accomplished sports administrators, with over 30 years’ experience in all aspects of sports administration, including as Deputy CEO, Rugby Australia; Executive Director NSW Rugby Union; General Manager, Rugby World Cup 2003; inaugural Head of A-League and Community Football, Football Federation Australia and CEO, Australian Sailing. Matt served as Interim COO and Executive Advisor to Japan Rugby in the early years of preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2019. In voluntary rugby roles he was chair Sydney Rugby Union, a director NSW Rugby Union and Council Member Australian Rugby Union. He played over 250 games with the Mosman Rugby Club and served as its president. Matt was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for services to rugby union, in particular the staging of Rugby World Cup 2003. Prior to his sports career he worked in the construction industry. He holds a Bachelor of Building, UNSW and Grad Dip Sport Management, UTS.
Since his role as CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympic Games, Sandy Hollway AO has undertaken numerous projects in business, government and the community, including high level advice to other events around the world.
He was one of a small group of foreign advisers to Beijing in its bid for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He has provided management advice to the London 2012 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Melbourne 2006 and Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the Doha 2006 Asian Games. He was an adviser to Tokyo in its bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Prior to joining SOCOG in February 1997, Sandy has been an Australian diplomat, Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Hawke, and Head of two Commonwealth Government Departments – Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs; and Industry, Science and Technology. He was a member of the Advisory Board for the centenary of Anzac.
He has a strong interest in promoting the export of Australia’s world-class products and services in major events and sports. Sandy was a Senior Advisor to the Australian International Sports Events Secretariat, a joint export promotion venture of the New South Wales and Victorian governments. He has led delegations of Australian companies pursuing business opportunities in major events overseas. He was a Patron of Austrade’s Business Club for Beijing, an initiative to expand Australia’s business contacts at the time of the Beijing Games.
In 2013, Sandy was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Event Awards for his contribution to the Australian Events Industry.
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.
Brenda is a Board Member of Tourism and Events Queensland and Deputy Chair of the Sunshine Coast Events Board. Brenda has extensive experience in the business of sport and major events, providing strategic, project and change management services within the sports, event and entertainment sector.
Brenda has served in previous roles including Chair of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Bathurst 2021 Local Organising Committee and Vice President and Non-Executive Director of the Athletics Australia board. Her experience includes the creation of Cricket Australia’s newest commercial property the Big Bash League. Prior to this her roles have included the position of General Manager – Project Planning, Risk and Strategy at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and Senior Advisor to the Australian International Sporting Events Secretariat.
Formerly a Partner in global consulting firm Accenture, Brenda holds a Bachelor of Business, a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Business – Sport Management.
James is the Co-Founder of APAC multi-award-winning full-service digital marketing agency, Rocket. James’ 20-year career working with more than 500 in-house marketing teams inspired the release of Amazon’s #1 best-seller, Smarter Marketer. Now as the Host of Australia’s #1 Marketing Podcast of the same name, James discusses the latest trends, best resources and tactical advice with local and global authorities to help thousands of Australian marketers become more successful in their careers.
Listen to Smarter Marketer here – https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast
Hailey Mason has built an impressive career in the event and brand management industry, working on both the brand and agency sides. Starting at Snowsport GB in athlete management, Hailey then gained valuable experience with Media Company ACP before taking on a pivotal role as Event Manager for the international brand Red Bull. In 2012, Hailey founded her own event agency, creating numerous public and cause-related events. Her agency was recognised as Small Event Agency of the Year in 2018. Following a successful merger in the same year, she co-founded The Shift Corp, a leading event management and marketing agency that won Event Organisation of the Year in 2022 and Public Event management Company 2023. Known for her creativity and straightforward approach, Hailey has also co-developed Wingman, a technology-driven platform that has become a disruptive force in the industry by connecting event specialists and brands for seamless collaboration.
Libbie Ray is the Director of Connected Event Group and the President of the Entrepreneurs Organisation Sydney. Libbie’s 20 years of experience across marketing, events, technology, and broadcast production provides a well-rounded approach to the new world of events. Libbie’s passionate about sharing her knowledge and insights and works with Skills IQ and TAFE to assist in the development of the training and education framework for her sector.
Liliana is a seasoned entrepreneur, visionary, events producer, and dedicated advocate known for her remarkable ability to bring dreams to life.
With a career marked by producing over 2000 global events and orchestrating successful collaborations with clients ranging from rock bands to royalty, Liliana has raised over $40 million for various charitable causes.
Recognised for her problem-solving skills and unique framework for creating extraordinary events and fostering community engagement, Liliana is sought after by global businesses and charities alike. Her expertise spans event production and strategy, fundraising, publicity, and building powerful sponsorship relationships.
As CEO, Creative Director, and mentor, Liliana empowers individuals and organisations to dream big and co create their visions, instilling positive messages and supporting women’s rights and empowerment in both the workplace and communities.
Liliana is a dedicated advocate for the event industry, actively engaging in discussions with government officials to address industry concerns. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’s in Business, combining education, theory, and practical experience to lead a successful business for the past 17 years. Additionally, Liliana is committed to community involvement and personal growth, serving as a member of the International Women’s Forum Australia, a Board Director for Du Good, and a Board Director for Equal Access for Autism.
An Australian native with a deep Italian heritage, Liliana embodies a zest for life, warmth, and an unwavering commitment to spreading positivity. With strength, sass, and a touch of nurturing charm, Liliana consistently exceeds audience expectations and delivers tangible results for her clients. Her influence in the events industry and her role as a beacon of positivity continue to shine brightly in 2024, earning her the accolade of “GENIUS” from His Majesty King Charles III.
Anders Sörman-Nilsson (Global EMBA / LLB) is a global futurist and the founder of the Sydney-based think tank and trend analysis firm – Thinque, which provides data-based research, foresight and thought leadership assets for global brands across 4 continents. The company’s vision is to disseminate and decode ‘avant-garde ideas which expand minds and inspire a change of heart’, and clients like Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, McKinsey, Jaguar Land Rover, Adobe, MINI, Rugby New Zealand and Lego trust his future guidance. He is an awarded keynote speaker who helps leaders decode trends, decipher what’s next and turn provocative questions into proactive answers. He has published 3 books on digital transformation and innovation including ‘Aftershock’ (2020), ‘Seamless’ (2017) and ‘Digilogue’ (2013), is a member of TEDGlobal, Entrepreneurs Organization where he is the Sydney Chapter’s Leadership Impact Chair, and was nominated to the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders in 2019. He is the author of the Microsoft & Thinque whitepaper “How Artificial Intelligence is powering Australian Retail”, the co-creator of the B2B marketing award-winning Adobe Creative (CQ) Intelligence test, and is the host of the 2nd Renaissance Podcast. His futurist thinking has been shared by the Wall Street Journal, Financial Review, Monocle, BBC, South China Morning Post, Esquire and ABC TV.
Craig has consulted to major organisations and events in the areas of Risk, Security and Crowd Management, Emergency Management and Hostile Vehicle Management for both the private sector and government organisations both nationally and internationally.
Craig is a specialist in C4 Management through his experience as NSW Police Commander of The State Planning Unit, Major Events and Incidence Group for over 10 years and his role as Managing Director of Sheridan Consulting Group. Craig’s experience and knowledge places him in constant demand to perform the roles of Event Control Coordinator and Chief Warden at many events across the country and overseas.
Key events where Craig is engaged as the Lead Security Risk and Emergency Management Advisor are Vivid Sydney, SXSW Sydney, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney WorldPride as well as many major sporting events including World Cup Championships in basketball, swimming, football and cycling.
Craig holds an Executive Master of Public Administration, an Advanced Diploma in Police Management, Diploma of Vocational Education and Training, Advanced Diploma is Security Risk Management, Diploma in Training and Assessment Systems, Diploma of Event Management and Cert IV in Frontline Management (Business).
Craig is a current Member of OSAC – Overseas Security Advisory Council – US Department of State, Association Global Event Suppliers (AGES), ASIS International and ASIAL – Australian Security Industry Association Limited. Craig was appointed to the Board of Directors, Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance (AMPSEA).
Andrew Stone, a seasoned veteran in the world of festivals and major events! With over 25 years of invaluable experience, Andrew has had the pleasure of working with renowned Global organisations such as SFX Sports Group, IMG, Supercars, eps Worldwide and now Meshh. With an impressive background in event management, his knowledge runs deep. Andrew’s professional attention now focuses on insights gathered from analysing consumer engagement and behaviour inside live event spaces, shining a spotlight on the transformative power of passive data collection.