Meetings and Events Australia announces Evolve 2021 ‘Building Confidence through Best Practice'

May 11, 2021

Australia’s leading conference for event professionals Evolve, is set to take place this year in the City of Melbourne supported by major partners, Melbourne Convention Bureau, Accor and Events Air.

Melbourne has been chosen as the hub city to host Evolve 2021 -  Meetings & Events Australia’s (MEA) annual event, where the event industry will come together under the theme ‘Building Confidence through Best Practice’ recognising the importance to bring about change, creating a new future for the industry. The theme for Evolve was developed from vital feedback taken from an industry survey conducted by MEA in December 2020.

Now in its 37th year, this one-day event taking place on Thursday 1^st July 2021 at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins will host more than 18 plenary and concurrent sessions including a welcome networking function the evening prior. Satellite venues will support in Sydney and Brisbane, along with a virtual hub through the award winning OnAir 3D platform. To conclude, the annual MEA Awards Dinner will recognise excellence and exceptional achievement in the sector through an extraordinarily challenging year.

“We want the world to know that Melbourne is open for business and the best place to host events. “We are totally committed to bringing back the buzz to our city and supporting local jobs,” said City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

MEA Chair Nigel Collin said, “We hope to see in excess of 500 event professionals from across Australia and New Zealand attend in person in Melbourne. People are eager to get back to what they do best, face to face events. The industry is looking for leadership and support through recovery with relevant and timely information. Evolve is here to deliver that through its program.”

MEA will work closely with the City of Melbourne and Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) to ensure a fantastic event for all.  MCB is an industry leader whose responsibility is to drive the recovery in the business events sector and hosting Evolve will provide an important platform to do so, not only for Melbourne but right across the Australian events sector.

Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) Chief Executive Julia Swanson said, “Actions speak louder than words. If we’re really serious about driving recovery of our sector, we need to lead by example, and reconnect and reengage in-person at business events. With that front of mind, we look forward to seeing the events sector gather here in Melbourne at the live hub of Evolve 2021.”

MEA's core strategy in 2021 is to provide advocacy for the events sector, recovery tools, best practice and support employee retention through training and education.

For more information and to purchase your tickets visit evolve2021.com.au

Discounts available for MEA members and group ticketing purchases.

Exhibition and Sponsorship packages are now available starting from $700.