Penny has for 11 years been at Tourism Australia with her most recent role as Executive General Manager of Events, heading up a passionate and hardworking team

Her role in our industry has been pivotal to large measurable growth in the business sector. Business events are a major driver of the our visitor economy and worth more than $4bn per annum to Australia.

Much of our industry's operators, venues as well as agencies and suppliers have benefited from the success of Tourism Australia’s initiatives and today you will get to hear insights on some of their programs as well as key events and learnings over the years.

Penny will share moments from her beginning’s working agency side at in the UK and Australia producing events for top brands and companies through to more recently travelling the world and locally to promoting industry events and projects right here at home.

Grab your business class boarding pass and enjoy the journey.

Travel the world and produce large-scale events? Hell Yeah! Hear from Rodney Cox who for over 25 years has been at the helm of international large-scale exhibitions and trade fairs.

From the Motor Show to his current role at the International Gas Union, his career has taken him on many a journey across this planet.

With a passion for mentoring Australian event talent, Rodney unpacks the multiple aspects of a USD20mil show, its successes, challenges, as well as possible career paths in this industry. A must for anyone wanting to hear new perspectives or fly high again.

Have you considered using your event skills to work for a charity or a not for profit. Or maybe you run an event and want insights on how to secure partnerships and sponsors.

Tour De Cure’s large scale gala events are some of the most glamourous and well attended. But more than that, they raise phenomenal amounts of money for cancer research.

Cassandra is a powerhouse who inspires her team, volunteers, sponsors and a influential committee through her passion and love of live events. Having raised over 70mil this charity has got a mojo and following that many dream of.

We will unpack how Cass and her team deliver these extraordinary events and continue to reach Tour de Cures goals in a very competitive market.

From The Martian to Ice Age, discover how events and experiential are the vital to promoting and engaging with potential movie goers, and ultimately box office success. From making it snow in London for the launch of Ice Age to creative collaborations with brands and partners, Claire has done it all. This episode is great for anyone wanting to go behind the scenes and understand how to balance stakeholder expectations and still deliver big on creative concepts.  

If you are keen to engage your audience through live storytelling, then this episode is for you. Matt is one of the most passionate, witty, and multi-talented marketing professionals in our industry. 

Matt generously shares intel on how American Express use experiential to intimately connect with customers and target markets throughout Asia and the Pacific. With a deep and playful love for all things food and beverage, you will be inspired by the unique creative concepts he has delivered to surprise and delight.

You will also hear about his intriguing side hustles, that complement his main role, and we unpack his career advice on how to stay at the top of your game in a fast-evolving and pivoting industry.

Learn how to take your events virtual and online and still get maximum engagement and theatrical impact. Hayley Lemon has been a bright star in our industry for many years and is this week's guest on my show.

During this episode, Hayley shares her latest role and how she has successfully delivered Newscorp's complex event program in a virtual format. During Covid 19 and event restrictions, not every brand has succeeded in the virtual space.

Hayley has a secret source, her background and passion for putting creative and theatre at the heart of what she produces. From her beginnings at NIDA, we also learn it's her bold and fearless way and enigmatic personality that has taken her to the top.

Luca Balbo, Senior Director, Global Events reveals how he successfully heads up +13,000 worldwide events for Microsoft. Based in the US, he shares his methods and philosophies for delivering a wide range of B2B and B2C events for Microsoft as well as career highlights and his formula for managing his talented team. 

Looking to organise an event or break into events? Or perhaps you already are a seasoned organiser? No matter where your experience sits - you have come to the right place.

Francesca gets the show on the road by outlining what's in store, her experience and background and why this is the best podcast for anyone wanting to succeed in this exciting industry.