INCREASED funding from the South Australian state government to Adelaide’s convention bureau not only strengthens the bidding team that brings conferences and incentives to the city. It also means that business events is recognised by state ministers as a key economic driver.
Business Events Adelaide CEO Damien Kitto said the investment showed that the government considered business events a “sensible no-risk high-return investment in the state’s economic future”.
The new bid team is led by Jakki Govan (main picture) who joined the organisation late last year. “Ms Govan has an enviable reputation both domestically and internationally in sales and marketing as well as an understanding of how to win business events, and of their economic value,” said Kitto.
ADELAIDE’S INTERNATIONAL BID TEAM
Casey Smith (right) has been promoted to International Director of Bidding after five years with Business Events Adelaide.
Helen Xu, director of sales Asia, has been working in Asia and Australia for more than 20 years (based between Sydney and China).
Mark Phelps, manager business development, worked with the South Australian Tourism Commission for a decade before moving to Business Events Adelaide.
Peumi Peiris is manager, business development.
She spent more than 15 years with the Sri Lankan Convention Bureau and returns to Adelaide where she had studied at Flinders University.
“Business Events Adelaide is now working into the Department of the Premier and Cabinet as an economic growth rather than a tourism entity,” he said on announcing the new team.
“Our worth delivering an economic tail for the state’s priority sectors out of the business events we strategically win, is now an established fact. We well understand the responsibility to deliver, that this increased faith and investment in us brings.”
