Presenters

Dr Rob Harris

Principal, Event Training Australia
Honorary Associate, University of Technology Sydney Business School
Adjunct Professor, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
Professional Fellow, Asia Pacific Institute for Events Management

Dr Harris has an international reputation as an event management educator having developed and delivered programs through to Masters level in locations around the world including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, China and New Zealand, as well as throughout Australia. He is a co-author of the texts Festival and Special Event Management, Event Management and the Regional Event Management Handbook. Dr Harris serves as a judge for the Australian Event Awards and as an assessor for regional event grants for several state governments. Additionally, Rob is a member of the editorial boards of a number of key academic journals in the field of event management.

To view Dr Harris’s CV please click here.

Meg Hibbins

Consultant and Sessional Lecturer, Event Management, University of Technology, Sydney

Meg Hibbins has a corporate event management career spanning 20 years and has successfully developed and delivered special events across a range of industries including professional associations, pharmaceuticals, higher education, professional service firms and small business. Meg has extended her experience through volunteer activities with Manly Jazz Festival, Manly Food & Wine Festival, Sydney Festival, Christmas in the Mountains and the OzHarvest CEO Cookoff. Meg is a graduate of the Master of Management (Event Management) program at the University of Technology Sydney where she has recently been involved in developing and delivering event management education at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels.

Jade Whiteley

Event Producer

Jade is a Sydney-based event creator, producer and consultant with extensive experience across a broad range of event genres including festivals, corporate events, gala dinners, major awards ceremonies and community events. For the past four years Jade has held the role of Operations Director for IMG Culinary, delivering nationwide festivals including Taste of Sydney, Taste of Melbourne, Taste of Perth and Margaret River Gourmet Escape. Her previous roles have included National Tour Manager for Opera Australia, Venue Event Manager for Australian Fashion Week, Talent Logistics Manager for MTV Australia Awards, Logistics Manager for the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Parade and Production Manager for the State Theatre in Sydney.

Gill Minervini

Creative Consultant and former Creative Director for City of Sydney Events

Gill Minervini is a highly respected creative consultant, director, producer and curator with more than 30 years of experience delivering major festivals, public events and cultural experiences across Australia. Best known for her four-year tenure as Festival Director of Vivid Sydney, she led one of the nation’s most recognised events through a significant period of creative transformation, shaping programs across Light, Music, Ideas and Food while redefining the festival’s identity for contemporary audiences. Beyond Vivid Sydney, Gill has held senior creative roles across a range of landmark events, including Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Lunar New Year, Art & About Sydney, Sydney Christmas, Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast, the Barangaroo Welcome Celebrations and the Rugby League World Cup 2017 Opening Ceremony. She is widely regarded for her innovation, inclusiveness, strategic insight and delivery expertise, and now supports clients through creative consulting, festival strategy, curation and audience-focused event design nationally.