ETA’s team of presenters have extensive backgrounds both as educators and as event management practitioners. Their collective experience extends to the planning and delivery of a variety of business and public events including conferences, product launches, festivals, exhibitions, corporate parties, parades and seminars/workshops. Additionally, a range of industry specialists are also contracted by ETA to deliver presentations and programs in areas such as risk management, event project planning, event creation, social media marketing, volunteer management and accessible event design. Please note that presenters and industry specialists used in individual programs will vary by course location.

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 is a Sydney based creative director and event producer with over 25 years-experience in festival, event & creative project direction and delivery. Gill started her own company gill minervini creative in 2015 after having been the Creative Director for City of Sydney Events for some 17 years (1999 – 2015). Her recent career highlights include being engaged as: Curator, Event Director and Artistic Associate of the Riverbank Palais for the 2017 and 2018 Adelaide Festival; Director and Producer of the Barangaroo Welcome Celebrations (Sydney); Producer of Dark MOFO’s Winter Feast for MONA (Hobart); Director of the opening ceremony of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup at AAMI Stadium in Melbourne; and Director of the 2016 Newtown Festival. Gill is currently directing major outdoor activations at the Docklands precinct for the City of Melbourne

* Please note that course presenters may change due to circumstances beyond the control of Event Training Australia