Melbourne business event suppliers championing women, diversity and inclusion

March 03, 2024

The 2024 International Women's Day theme, Invest in Women: Celebrate Progress, can be well demonstrated by progressive Melbourne - a multicultural city that champions diversity and inclusion.

For business event planners seeking ways to amplify sustainability outcomes of diversity and inclusion, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) partners with a number of outstanding suppliers that offer the option of all-female teams to deliver everything from exhibition builds to audio visual tech to film production.

Said & Done Media - All female film production crew

MCB first engaged with Said & Done Media for the 2024 BestCities Global Forum, a four day annual flagship event for global industry thought-leaders, international associations and partner destinations.

The BestCities Global Alliance, of which Melbourne is a founding member, seeks to harness the power of collaboration and community to create positive impact through business events.

The theme of this year's Global Forum Melbourne, "Meeting the Challenge: Creating Connections with Purpose," encapsulated the goals of the event. The theme also sparked the decision by MCB to hire an all-female crew to capture and edit interviews and highlights.

MCB worked with Said & Done Media’s all female film production crew again for the 2024 Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Event (AIME). This formed part of a broader sustainability strategy for Melbourne’s participation in the event, which also included engaging with Indigenous owned and led suppliers for the Melbourne, Victoria stand on the tradeshow floor.

Said & Done Media work with diverse industries from fashion to technology to agriculture, along with business events and corporate clients such as Air Canada, the FIFA World Cup and Amazon, creating everything from documentaries to social content.

Listen to what Said & Done Media’s Creative Director, Alana Barker-Tompson, has to say about their passion for championing inclusivity and diversity in the film industry.

Moreton Hire - All female exhibition build crew

MCB partner Moreton Hire provides equipment and services for business events and exhibitions. Female founded and family owned, this progressive company commits to equality this International Women's Day with an All Female Build Program, providing an opportunity for the team to navigate various disciplines of Moreton Hire.

The approach not only brings diversity to their team but fosters a deep understanding of each other's roles, creating a collaborative and well-rounded work environment. Importantly, the program challenges traditional gender norms, assigning tasks that are often perceived as male-oriented operational roles.

Moreton Hire's goal is to have a balanced workforce, allowing for benefits like increased operational efficiency, innovation, and attracting top talent in the industry.

In 2024, the All Female Build Team will be tackling a full exhibition build from inception to completion. This includes design, ordering, packing, booth installation, signage installation, lighting, power setup, and the final bump-out. The entire turnkey service will be managed with finesse by the capable and empowered hands of the All-Female Team.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) – All female technology team

MCEC offers the option of an exclusively female technology (tech) crew for your business event, which the Chief Executive Women (CEW) Leadership Summit took advantage of in 2023.

According to the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, women make up only 6 per cent of the global audio visual (AV) industry. The underrepresentation of women in the AV industry highlights the significance of an all-female tech team leading such a prominent event at MCEC.

The CEW Leadership Summit not only showcased women leadership but also served as a platform to inspire and empower women at every decision-making table.

Along with the tech team, a team made up primarily of women supported every aspect of the event from planning to catering and security.

MCEC’s Event Delivery Manager, Alex Proud said “for the spirit of the event and the people attending, it was great to have other women involved in the production of the event”.

“It was quite a tech heavy event and having an all-female tech crew is unheard of,” she said.

MCEC is committed to gender equity and equality, having launched a Gender Equality Action Plan in 2022, and has an 80 per cent female Executive team, led by Chief Executive Natalie O’Brien AM.

Hold an inclusive and diverse business event in Melbourne

MCB’s Convention Servicing team connects you to suppliers to support your sustainability and positive impact goals. Find out more about Melbourne as a business events destination and free support services provided by MCB to make your event a success.