Ambassadors help Sydney snag events worth millions

BUSINESS Events Sydney’s (BESydney) Ambassador Program has helped New South Wales (NSW) secure a number of events that will generate almost A$400 million (US$395 million) in economic impact over the next few years.

These events include the 12th Congress of the International Society for Organ Donation and Procurement 2013, secured with assistance from Jeremy Chapman, director, Renal and Urology Unit of Westmead Hospital; and the International Bar Association 2017, secured by a bid led by Fred Chilton, partner of Emil Ford Lawyers.

NSW deputy premier Andrew Stoner, patron of the Ambassador Program, acknowledged the value of business events as a key driver of the state’s visitor and knowledge economies.

Stoner said: “Business events benefit not only our economy, but our communities and our industries, through the opportunities they create for global networking, trade and investment, information exchange and innovation.”

Meanwhile, the Ambassador Program has grown in size, with 24 individuals inducted into the body on Monday.

Twenty of these individuals took on ambassador roles while the remaining four are Future Leaders, an extension of the programme involving early career researchers and industry leaders.

New ambassadors include Peter Schofield, executive director and CEO of Neuroscience Research Australia; Ron Trent, director, Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Bruce Spivey, president, International Council of Ophthalmology; and Timothy Walker AM, chief executive and artistic director, London of Philharmonic Orchestra.

New Future Leaders are Yvette Blount, lecturer in Accounting Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University; Richard Payne, lecturer of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Sydney; Pep Serow, senior lecturer, School of Education, University of New England; and Kate Fairlie, chair of FIG Young Surveyors Network.

BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith said the bureau now had 78 ambassadors and eight Future Leaders, with plans to expand the programme even further over the next year.

“I have no doubt that, in 2013, our ambassadors and Future Leaders will continue to help BESydney to secure a diverse mix of events across a growing range of industry sectors and cement our position as Australia’s premier business event destination,” she said.

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