AusLeisure

Business Events Industry Aotearoa has recognised two of New Zealand’s top business events professionals, presenting them with Outstanding Contributor Awards for 2021 and 2022 at the BEIA industry gala dinner last night hosted at ToiToi - Hawke’s Bay Arts and Event Centre.

The BEIA 2021 Outstanding Contributor Award was presented to Maxine Wallis (pictured above left) from The Cordis Auckland. Heather Shaw (pictured above right), founder of family-owned event management company The Events Group, was named the BEIA 2022 Outstanding Contributor Award.

BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins advised that while each year one worthy recipient is chosen to be celebrated by the industry, with the 2021 conference cancelled due to COVID, this has been a special year.

Hopkins shared “we are acknowledging and celebrating two outstanding women in our field, both of whom have contributed hugely to our industry over the course of three decades.”

Maxine Wallis started her career as BEIA’s (CINZ’s) first Australia representative, putting New Zealand on the map as a business tourism destination in the key Australian market. Later she moved back to Auckland and worked with Aotea Centre. Then, moving to the North Island’s east coast as Chief Executive of Gisborne Tourism, she drove the marketing for the turn-of-the-century celebration for the first place to see the sun in the new millennium, drawing major international media attention. Then she became Senior Sales Manager Australia for SkyCity Entertainment Group, and for the past eight years, has been Director of Sales, MICE at The Cordis Auckland.   

Heather Shaw’s career began managing events at North Harbour basketball, and the Millennium Institute, before going on to buy a team-building business 20 years ago, and transforming it into a full-service event management company with a top reputation – The Events Group. Heather’s daughter, Meredith Drucker who is General Manager of the family-owned business, accepted the award on her behalf.

The BEIA Outstanding Contributor Awards were presented with thanks to long-standing supporters David Hall, and Hunter's Wines.

Showcasing the diversity of their spaces and their technical and creative expertise, the conference finale gala dinner, dubbed Deco, Diamonds and Decadence, was hosted by ToiToi - Hawke’s Bay Arts and Events in a magnificent setting. Guests arrived at the Opera House where a speakeasy set was revealed on stage. A moonshine raid followed, taking guests into the dining room. The seated dinner in the Assembly Room accompanied by local wine was created by Dish catering.

The celebration of flapper fashion, Art Deco design, and epic dance was produced by Toi Toi, together with creative styling by local suppliers Miss Frou Frou and Flock Events, and emceed and entertained by the multi-talented Greg Ward. Guests dressed in vintage style to celebrate the Art Deco era for which Hawke’s Bay is famous, creating a glitzy soiree atmosphere.

This was also the final event organised by Jen Henshaw, who is stepping down from her role as BEIA Events Manager later this month. She was acknowledged and thanked for her huge support and efforts in creating this event, and BEIA’s flagship MEETINGS exhibition.

The destination for next year’s conference will be Marlborough.

Image: The BEIA 2021 Outstanding Contributor Award was presented to Maxine Wallis (pictured above left) from The Cordis Auckland. Heather Shaw (pictured above right), founder of family-owned event management company The Events Group, was named the BEIA 2022 Outstanding Contributor Award.

Related Articles

20th September 2022 - BEIA conference will see industry experts share insights on the most challenging subjects

14th July 2022 - BEIA launches 30th Aotearoa New Zealand Event Planners’ Guide

17th November 2021 - BEIA launches Future of Business Events Virtual Summit and appoints new Independent Chair

28th July 2022 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa Survey shows soaring demand for business events in New Zealand

14th July 2022 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa to stage MEETINGS 2023 at Tākina

3rd March 2022 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa looks to showcase New Zealand at Te Pae Christchurch

1st March 2022 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa welcomes end to isolation for vaccinated visitors

11th December 2021 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa virtual summit offers optimism for industry recovery

7th October 2021 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa conference postponed despite unveiling of New Zealand’s COVID roadmap

1st September 2021 - Business Events Industry Aotearoa Conference moved to November 2021

18th November 2020 - CINZ to change name to Business Events Industry Aotearoa on 1st December 2020

---

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.