The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) today welcomed industry leaders, innovators and emerging talent to the ABEA Conference & Awards 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for an event focused on partnership, knowledge-sharing and sector-wide collaboration.
The program integrates leading global voices through long-standing and newly formalised partnerships that support education, capability building and sustainability, all reinforcing this year’s theme, Partner with Impact, which celebrates the power of strategic collaboration to drive best practice and elevate the business events industry nationally and globally.
ABEA CEO, Melissa Brown, said the theme reflects both the current needs of the sector, the power of local partnerships, and the momentum created through ABEA’s growing network of national and international partners.
“Partnerships sit at the heart of a strong, resilient and innovative business events industry. No single organisation can do this work alone. When we collaborate, we lift standards, we expand opportunities for our members, and we create real impact for our sector.
“This conference is an opportunity to see the industry through each other’s eyes, to look at things from a different perspective, and address our challenges together. It’s our chance to engage, learn, grow and make new connections,” said Brown.
Today’s conference also highlights the signing of ABEA’s new Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian and New Zealand chapter of Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), expanding ABEA’s reach and alignment across the global Incentive sector. The partnership enhances access to knowledge, networks and international collaboration opportunities for members working in incentive travel and corporate events.
This work builds on the recent announcement of ABEA’s engagement with IFES to support capability and sustainability across Australian exhibition and event suppliers.
ABEA’s partnership with International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) continues to provide invaluable support for emerging leaders, with ICCA contributing to talent pathways and the development of future-ready professionals.
The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) are delivering content on global best practice for Professional Conference Organisers as part of ABEA and IAPCO’s formal Memorandum of Understanding.
These formalised partnerships follow a year of accelerated global engagement and demonstrate ABEA’s commitment to connecting Australia with best-in-class international expertise.
