EEAA announces new Board of Directors and welcomes Nicole Walker as President

September 30, 2021

Events / Venues /

Following their Annual General Meeting on 28th September, the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia has announced a strong and diverse newly constituted Board of Directors. EEAA Immediate Past President, Spiro Anemogiannis announced the following new office bearers for the EEAA Board Director who were elected unopposed:

Nicole Walker, Arinex - President
Helen Mantellato, ICC Sydney - Vice President
Paul Elliot, Harry the hirer - Treasurer and,
Elissa Duke, MCEC - Secretary

The two venue designated board positions remain vacant. The board has agreed to call for expressions of interest from venue members, which close on 10th December. The EEAA board understands and appreciates that their venue members around the country are currently focused on rescheduling and resourcing of events. This extended EOI period allows them to re-emerge from this hectic time and be in a position to nominate for these vacancies.

EEAA Chief Executive, Claudia Sagripanti welcomed the new board especially the new President, who Sagripanti notes “will contribute energy, drive and different perspectives as an Australian business owner. I look forward to remaining on the board to continue our hard work and delivery of member benefits.”

Incoming President, Nicole Walker commented “It is a true honour to be elected as President of EEAA and the Board. I will continue the advocacy work, provide our members with clear outcomes, drive quality training and best practice to grow their businesses. Together with the Board and the EEAA team, I will ensure the value of this sector is recognised in Australasia, not only for the industries it supports but for the legacies it leaves long after.

“Spiro stated in his outgoing message about the difficulties in bringing the industry together under one umbrella however, I would like to thank Spiro and the EEAA outgoing Board for having this conversation with the Australian events industry and look forward to continuing these discussions. I hope to provide enthusiasm for collaboration to ensure consolidation and strength of unity and voice of the exhibition and events industry.”

Walker continued “I would also like to welcome the other board members who were newly elected including:

Rodney Cox, Director, Delaro as Supplier representative
Rod Peter, Managing Director, Coleman Group as Supplier representative
Kym De Britt, Chief Executive, Australian Dental Industry Association as the Association representative

EEAA Vice-President Helen Mantellato thanked Spiro Anemogiannis, for his six-year service as President sharing “Spiro has devoted so much of his time, effort and passion to the benefit of our industry. Over the past two years, he presided over the most difficult times of our lives, and despite the challenges we all faced due to COVID-19, his focus was on supporting the Association. He unfailingly advocated for each and every one of the members from all sectors of the Business Events industry. On behalf of the EEAA Board, we thank Spiro for his leadership, perseverance, pragmatism and dedication, and the legacy he is leaving for the benefit of the industry.”

Sagripanti adds “we had strong interest this year from a wide range of our Member companies who were keen to contribute to the development and recovery of the Business Events industry. Congratulations to those who were nominated for positions in this year’s Board election, and to those newly elected. We encourage all members to get involved in the EEAA activities, and welcome collaboration and feedback. The EEAA Secretariat and I look forward to supporting the board and implementing the Rebuild Strategy including the roll out of our marketing activity, supporting our Emerging Leaders, and programs including Sustainability, Risk & Safety, Digital & Technology and Skills & Training.”

The newly constituted EEAA Board of Directors:

Organiser Representatives:

Nicole Walker, Chief Executive, Arinex
David Longman, Managing Director, Diversified Communications Australia
Spiro Anemogiannis, Managing Director, Informa Australia
Matt Pearce, Chief Executive, Talk2 Media and Events

Association Organiser Representative:

Kym De Britt, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Dental Industry Association

Supplier Representatives:

Paul Elliott, State Manager NSW, Harry the hirer
Rodney Cox, Director, Delaro
Libbie Ray, Director, Connected Event Group
Rod Peter, Managing Director, Coleman Group

Venue Representatives:

Helen Mantellato, Senior Manager, Business Development International & Exhibitions, International Convention Centre Sydney
Elissa Duke, Senior Manager, Agile Project Management Office, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

The Exhibition & Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is the major voice of the exhibition and business events industry, dedicated to supporting the organisers, association organisers, venues and suppliers, representing 80% of the industry’s volume. The EEAA is committed to leading the industry through the pandemic crisis and onwards to stability and growth. Read more about EEAA

Image top: New EEAA President Nicole Walker

23rd September 2021 - Spiro Anemogiannis announces his last AGM as EEAA President and encourages the event industry to unite

10th September 2021 - EEAA delivers program of events as pathway to sector recovery

29th June 2021 - EEAA refocuses lobbying and advocacy on accelerating COVID vaccination process

17th June 2021 - EEAA launches pilot program to provide risk and safety training

24th May 2021 - Harvey Lister to join panel at EEAA Global Exhibitions Day Summit

24th March 2021 - NSW Tourism Minister to join members at EEAA event

25th February 2021 - EEAA takes International Women’s Day 2021 event online and explores the Choose to Challenge theme

9th December 2020 - EEAA honours industry excellence and prepares for return of in-person events

12th November 2020 - EEAA delivers hybrid event marking the return of in-person events for 2021

6th November 2020 - EEAA welcomes clarification that exhibitions in NSW are able to restart immediately

16th October 2020 - EEAA Young Stars to host virtual exchange on key challenges facing young members of business events community

27th August 2020 - EEAA launches webinars to gain industry insight on the return of in-person exhibitions and business events

6th August 2020 - EEAA launches #ExpoReady campaign

23rd July 2020 - EEAA launches program to support young members of the business events community

4th June 2020 - EEAA online webinar highlights Australian business events industry ready to restart face-to-face events

20th May 2020 - EEAA to lead Global Exhibitions Day 2020

8th May 2020 - EEAA calls on governments to expedite restart date for domestic business events

5th March 2020 - Workplace equality promoted at EEAA 2020 International Women’s Day Breakfast

27th February 2020 - EEAA to explore workplace equality in celebration of International Women’s Day 2020

21st January 2020 - EEAA appoints Claudia Sagripanti as Chief Executive

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.