From the Chair: 23 March 2022

In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA Chairman Michael Firman reflects on his love for our industry despite its challenges. 

I love my job and I love what I do. I love finding solutions that create excitement and bring ideas to life. I love the comradery with colleagues and the banter with clients. I love the trust that is built with long established relationships. I love the network of people and businesses that we call our industry. Family, friends and neighbors don’t understand what I do and it’s hard to explain. Perhaps that’s because a lot of what we do in our industry is charged with emotion and sensory experiences that just can’t be explained in a simple elevator pitch.

It’s hard to explain the industry we work in when there are so many terms to describe it; meetings, conferences, conventions, symposia, congresses, incentive group events, marketing events, corporate celebrations, seminars, public or trade shows, product launches, exhibitions, company general meetings, corporate retreats, study tours or training programs. Events can be explained as a forum to communicate messages, to educate or train, to promote a product, to reward or celebrate, to collaborate on issues and solutions, or to generate business. But equally, events happen for entertainment such as musicals, festivals, parties, celebrations, award ceremonies, sporting events and community gatherings.

The event ecosystem is entwined with other service industries that are nourished by our activities, such as hospitality, accommodation, transport and tourism. They coexist and bolster the economic contribution to the national accounts. Governments talk about the visitor economy, which includes domestic and international tourism, international students, business and leisure travelers, and associated industries such as hospitality, transport and accommodation.

In my home state, Victoria is touted by the state government as a leader in the visitor economy with strengths related to major events, food and wine, diverse multicultural communities, artistic and cultural experiences, and scenic beauty.

Within the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) is a division called the Creative and Visitor Economies Division, and within this division sits the Tourism, Events and Visitor Economy Branch (TEVE) which responsible for strengthening the profile of tourism and events across government while providing research and policy development across the Victorian Visitor Economy. Every state and territory has some form of Visitor Economy Strategy that provides funding to events to support local tourism and hospitality.

It’s not only hard to describe our industry to my family and friends but it appears even governments struggle to understand our industry. I guess when you are in the smoke and mirror business, nobody outside of our own event bubbles can understand what we do.

Nevertheless, despite all the policy discussions and names we give our industry, I still love what I do. I know that the events we deliver play an important role in supporting jobs and investment in our economy. I know that can’t happen without fantastic and passionate people who dedicate a lot of unpaid hours to deliver great events that others take for granted. And I know that what we do is the catalyst for growth behind what governments call ‘the visitor economy’.

Now that events are happening again, don’t just fall back into old routines and expectations of performance. Stop and take a breath, enjoy the event experience and remember it’s the people who make it all happen that really should be appreciated.

Re-engage with your clients and suppliers, say thank you, and appreciate what you have, contribute to the conversation, be positive and engage with the opportunities to come. Let’s get back to delivering the World’s best events by you, the event professional.