Acting Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner will be the inaugural Patron of Business Events Sydney’s Ambassador Program, a business development program that helps to secure international events for Sydney and the state.
Business Events Sydney’s (BESydney) Ambassador Program brings together a diverse and talented group of 60 industry leaders, whose expertise spans medicine, science, technology, commerce and culture. These Ambassadors work closely with BESydney to assist, advise and support the bidding process that is integral to the State’s success in securing business events.
Each of the 60 professionals involved in the program offers their industry knowledge, advocacy and strategic advice to ensure BESydney has the most competitive chance of securing an ever-growing number of high-profile business events.
“BESydney Ambassadors represent the wealth of intellectual capital we have here in NSW, and I’m proud to be associated with this group that champions innovation, intellect, and global connections for the benefit of the State,” Mr Stoner said.
“Since the program’s official launch in 2009, this commitment has secured 12 events for NSW. These events are estimated to deliver around $25 million to our visitor economy, as well as many other far reaching and long lasting benefits to our communities and industries.
“Business events facilitate knowledge exchange, global networks, trade and investment opportunities, and increased innovation and productivity.”
Lyn Lewis-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of BESydney adds, “We are thrilled that the Deputy Premier accepted our invitation to be Patron of the program. This is another step towards a whole-of-government, and industry, approach to business events. This joint approach will be essential to maximise the success of the future Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct that is scheduled for completion in 2016.”
“The Ambassador Program has played a central role in bid strategies for a number of years and has assisted us to secure some fantastic events that align closely with NSW Government priority sectors including the Asia Pacific Conference on Metabolic Syndrome 2011, World Congress of the Bachelier Finance Society for 2012 and the 12th Congress of the International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement 2013.”
The Deputy Premier will tonight invest 12 new ambassadors to the program, bringing the total number of members to 60. The ceremony is a part of the BESydney Ambassador Dinner and Investiture held at Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. At this year’s dinner, The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG will present the key note address.
Ambassadors to be invested in 2012 are:
- Professor Attila Brungs, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), University of Technology, Sydney
- Professor William Carroll, Head of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth
- Professor Andrew Cheetham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research, University of Western Sydney
- Mr Sean Clancy, Former Sydney Chapter Chairman, Young Presidents’ Organization
- Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Chief Executive Officer, National Information and Communications Technology Australia
- Professor Ian S Fraser AO, Professor in Reproductive Medicine; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney
- Dr Elliot Gilbert, Project Leader, Food Science, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
- Professor Roy Green, Dean, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney
- Professor Jim Piper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Macquarie University – Research
- Professor Judy Raper, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, University of Wollongong
- Professor Farzad Safaei, Director, Information & Communication Technology Research Institute, University of Wollongong
- Professor Jill Trewhella, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, University of Sydney
Also introduced this evening will be the first members of BESydney’s new Future Leaders program. Future Leaders will attend global events to develop networks, identify bid opportunities, and to explore the structure and purpose of conferences and congresses to inform how they are designed to meet the needs of future generations.
“By working with future leaders today, BESydney hopes to uncover valuable information, stay ahead of emerging trends, develop more bid opportunities and profile the next generation of bid leaders. We have to be future-focused now. Tomorrow is too late,” Lyn Lewis-Smith said.
The first members of the Future Leaders program are:
- Dr Pia Winberg, Director, Shoalhaven Marine and Freshwater Centre, University of Wollongong
- Dr Andrew Hutchinson, Chancellor’s Post Doctoral Research Fellow, School of Medical and Molecular Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney
- Dr Amanda Kennedy, Deputy Director, Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, University of New England
- Dr Jochen Schweitzer, Lecturer in Strategy and Marketing, Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney.
A full list of BESydney’s Ambassadors, including those who will be invested on Monday 14 May, is available at www.businesseventssydney.com.au
