Lyn Lewis-Smith, CEO of Business Events Sydney, and Gary Grimmer, chair of GainingEdge, have been recognised with the inaugural Iceberg Excellence Awards for Advocacy of the Business & Professional Events Sector.
Presented at the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Exhibition (AIME) Leaders Forum, the awards celebrate their outstanding contributions to repositioning business events as catalysts for societal and economic progress — not just drivers of tourism.
The Iceberg, an international advocacy movement led by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), champions the broader impact of business events. Iceberg Founder and Producer James Latham praised both winners for their trailblazing work before Peter King, chair of the Australian Business Events Association, handed over the awards.
“Lyn has been at the forefront of research, data, and storytelling for our sector,” said Latham. “Her work with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has built advocacy pillars that highlight business events beyond their immediate economic footprint.”
Grimmer was hailed for his relentless policy engagement. “No one has done more to position business events as enablers of government agendas,” Latham added. “Gary’s expertise has helped shift the perception of business events from being travel agents to change agents.”
Lewis-Smith’s collaboration with UTS professors Carmel Foley and Deborah Edwards has led to internationally recognised reports, including Beyond Tourism Benefits: A Social Legacy, The Power of Conferences, and The Legacies of Business Events. These studies have become blueprints for demonstrating the sector’s lasting impact.
Meanwhile, Grimmer’s work on the Meet Denmark Report and BestCities Global Alliance Legacy Measurement project has reinforced the long-term value of business events. As chair of The Iceberg’s International Advisory Board since its inception, he has played a pivotal role in advancing the sector’s legacy narrative.
The awards highlight a growing movement to redefine business events as platforms for knowledge exchange, economic growth, and social progress.
