Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, photo by Lisa Tomasetti
	John Allen AM and Lena Malouf CSEP AIFD, Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

Australia’s leading events practitioners gathered to admire and celebrate the winners of the 2012 Australian Event Awards at ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, on Thursday night.

The coveted Australian Event of the Year for 2012 was awarded from what the judges described as a particularly close set of finalists to the spectacular Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Opera Australia’s La Traviata, set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, was also the winner of the Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event category.

The elegant ceremony, attended by hundreds of events professionals and streamed online to record number of viewers, was put together by the industry’s favourite specialist suppliers in key areas of event production, and praised as one of the most important events in the industry calendar.

The winners in 2012 represented all corners of Australia, from The Light in Winter at Fed Square in Melbourne, to the Hawaiian Ride for Youth in WA, to the double winner for two years in a row, South Australia’s Santos Tour Down Under.

For the first time, guests and online viewers of the webcast decided the winner for the Entertainer of the Year, choosing from their favourite of the live performances by the finalists. Father-daughter duo, Harmony and Darryl Lovegrove, took out the prize after their touching display of generational talent.

In another first for the Awards, a surprise Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to John Allen AM, currently co-chair of the Event Awards judging panel, and Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Event Management. Lena Malouf CSEP AIFD and Mary Lopez AM were also named as recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Electric Canvas, William Angliss Institute, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Event Planet and David Atkins Enterprises were also amongst the winners this year.

Full List of Winners

Australian Event of the Year
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Opera Australia
Sydney Olympic Park Best Sporting Event
2012 Santos Tour Down Under - Events South Australia
Best Tourism Event
2012 Santos Tour Down Under - Events South Australia
Best Charity or Cause-Related Event
Hawaiian Ride for Youth 2012 – Youth Focus Incorporated
CIM Magazine Best Meeting or Conference
Mumbrella360 - Focal Attractions Pty Ltd
Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Opera Australia
Best Corporate Event
By Design Group Corporate Showcase - Atlantic Group [v] Companies
Best Exhibition
Asia- Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition 2011 - Reed Exhibitions Australia
Coates Hire Best Community Event
The Light in Winter- Fed Square Pty Ltd
Academy of Wedding Planners Best Private Event
Nadine and Elie’s Wedding - Staging Connections
Best New Event
Outpost 2011 - Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Best Regional Event
Ulysses AGM Event Mildura 2012 - Mildura Rural City Council
Best Achievement in Design, Look or Theming
The Electric Canvas for their work on Vivid Sydney
Best Achievement in Catering
Belinda Franks Catering for their work on Paspaley Polo in the City 2011
Best Achievement in Marketing, Communication or Sponsorship
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust for their work on Outpost 2011
Best Achievement in Sustainability
Kogarah City Council for their Major Events and Citizenship Ceremonies

Best Technical Achievement or Innovation
Global Entries Online for their work on Equestrian Events
Best Venue
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Best Product or Service
Bespoke Luxury Bathroom Module - Splashdown Event Services Pty Ltd
Best Education or Training Program
William Angliss Institute Events Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma of Events
Best Export
David Atkins Enterprises Pty Ltd
Young Achiever of the Year
Laura Sage - Event Planet Pty Ltd
Entertainer of the Year
Harmony and Darryl Lovegrove
Event Manager of the Year
Event Planet Pty Ltd
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Lopez AM
Lena Malouf CSEP AIFD
John Allen AM

Australian Event Awards Industry Night of Nights
13 September
Gold Members Room, ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

The 2012 Australian Event Awards is the national awards program to reward innovation, recognise excellence and unite the Australian Events Industry. Entries were open to any event staged between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012.