The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau’s (MCVB) Beverley Williamson has been named Business Development Person of the Year, as well as the coveted Meetings or Events Professional of the Year, at this year’s prestigious Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) National Awards.
Announced on Tuesday night at the 25th MEA Annual Conference Awards in Sydney, Ms Williamson beat two other finalists in her category to be named the 2011 Business Development award recipient, and was awarded Professional of the Year ahead of seven national finalists.
As Associate Director of Convention Sales for MCVB, Ms Williamson’s success is due to the significant results she produced for the Victorian business events industry during the 2010/2011 financial year, working with her team to secure 36 major international conferences for the state of Victoria, with an estimated economic impact of almost AUD $197 million.
This is the first time Ms Williamson has entered the MEA awards as an individual and she said she didn’t expect to be named the national winner, or even consider she would win the overall Professional of the Year award.
“My competition was very tough and everybody who made it through as a national finalist is very good at what they do,” she said.
“I feel very honoured to have won these awards and I would like to thank MCVB for its support, and in particular my team, without who I wouldn’t have been able to get this far.”
Ms Williamson’s involvement in business events spans 17 years, the last five of which she has been employed by MCVB.
Chief Executive Officer of MCVB, Karen Bolinger, said Ms Williamson’s award wins are an incredible achievement.
“We are very proud of what Bev has achieved for the organisation and for the state of Victoria, and this award goes a long way in recognising the outstanding contribution she has made to the business events industry,” she said.
