The Australian meetings industry pioneer Lyn Lewis-Smith has
announced she is stepping down from her position as CEO of Business Events Sydney
(BESydney).
At the organisation’s annual general meeting, she advised
the board of her decision not to renew her contract for another term when it transpires
in July 2025.
Board chair Professor Mary O’Kane AC paid tribute to Lewis-Smith
achievements at the helm of an international team tasked with winning
conference business for Sydney.
She said: “She
(Lewis-Smith) has led BESydney with vision and integrity over the past 12 years
and the business events industry globally is better for it.”
While acknowledging its crucial role in the visitor economy,
Lewis-Smith has been a leading voice in calls for a more holistic evaluation of
the importance of conferences and business events and has been an influential
advocate for the ideas of ‘legacy’ and ‘impact’.
In 2013 she co-authored with academics from UTS Business School
a white paper - Determining Business Events Legacies beyond the Tourism spend:
An Australian Case Study Approach – which started a conversation about the
value of conferences that resonates today.
She said: “I have always believed in this industry and the
impact it has on the world. This role is one of the best jobs in the global
visitor economy and I will be leaving my stewardship of BESydney while it is
well-placed to accommodate the transition. The new Government funding for
BESydney for FY25, responding to the significance of business events to the NSW
Visitor Economy, as well as the upcoming strategy, present a strong outlook for
the organisation in the coming year. The industry, stakeholders, my team and
family have been the reason I have stayed for over 20 years, and I will
continue to be a passionate advocate for Sydney.”
BESydney announced strong results for the fiscal period and
an even stronger forward events pipeline through to 2030. At the AGM, hosted in the Australian National
Maritime Museum, BESydney reported:
• 69 international
and national meetings held which attracted 51,000 delegates generating an
estimated $216m in direct expenditure for the state.
• 69 new
business events secured expected to attract 61,000 delegates generating an
estimated AUD217 million in direct expenditure
• And by 30
June 2024, the BESydney team had secured a pipeline of confirmed business to
2030 comprising 58 global and national business events expected to attract
101,000 delegates to Sydney generating an estimated AUD401m in direct
expenditure.
The Board will commence the global search for a new CEO
shortly as part of a planned transition. Lyn Lewis-Smith will continue to serve
as CEO until end of June 2025 to ensure an orderly progression.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
