About Us - Business Events Tasmania

Business Events Tasmania

Business Events Tasmania (BET) is a specialist bidding organisation responsible for marketing Tasmania as a business event destination.

We are a not for profit member organisation, offering specialist bidding services to deliver tangible benefits to the visitor economy. We also drive long lasting legacies through the attraction of strategically valuable business events to Tasmania.

We pride ourselves in the collaborative approach we take with members, key stakeholders and local partners. Working with BET means you will receive the most extensive, up-to-date information that ensures the success of your next conference, without price restrictions or commission levies.

For over 30 years, we have taken a lead role in promoting Tasmania as a business event destination to national and international associations, corporate organisations and event planners. Conference connections underpin knowledge creation and in exchange, attract global talent, encourage trade and investment, nurture collaboration, foster innovation and provide social benefits. And so, backed by strong local relationships, we also work in collaboration with the Tasmanian State Government to attract and support strategically valuable business to the Tasmanian economy.

Richmond, Experience Tasmania Tours

Peppers Seaport Launceston

Salamanca, Hobart

“Our team will provide local knowledge and insight into the best venues, service providers and experiences along with fully costed proposals.”

Our Role

When asked what they like most about Tasmania as a business events destination, event planners say, “the standard of service from Business Events Tasmania”. We make a point of it. Our complimentary services are available to anyone organising a business event with 15–1,100 attendees, including professional conference organisers, corporate event managers, personal assistants, association committees and association members or local hosts. Our approach is always friendly and professional, our team is extremely knowledgeable and what’s more, our services are complimentary.

We’ll prepare a comprehensive proposal for you to present to your client or committee, including quotes from the venues and service providers that meet your event specifications. Site inspections and famils are welcomed. We can support you across all aspects of your Tasmanian conference, convention or business event, thanks to our extensive range of resources, sample itineraries and tools to boost delegate numbers. Corporate social responsibility opportunities are also available to include in your event plan and budget.

Our Team

Marnie Craig

Chief Executive Officer

Marnie oversees operations and works closely with stakeholders and industry organisations; focusing on the ongoing strategic development of the business events sector in Tasmania and raising the profile of the organisation locally, nationally and internationally.

Michaela Lamprey

General Manager Communication

In her role as General Manager Corporate Affairs, Michaela is responsible for the operational management of the organisation’s administration and finance, stakeholder communications, high level stakeholder relationship management and ensuring the business complies with all business operating procedures. Michaela also provides the CEO and Board administrative support.

Meredith Farrer

General Manager Sales and Marketing

Meredith is responsible for all Business Events Tasmania marketing and communications, including strategy development, brand maintenance, digital, advertising, media and public relations.

Leah Muir

Sales Manager

Leah joined BET in 2015 with 10 years’ experience representing venues state wide, working with corporate and association business events. Leah has extensive knowledge on Tasmanian and how the destination can work for all business events exploring the destination.

Krystal James

Manager – Stakeholder Engagement

Krystal joined the BET team in 2010. Krystal works with clients and members to bid on corporate and association business events. She oversees our ambassador program and represents BET and members at tradeshows. Krystal also organises and hosts site inspections and famils.

Taryn Reid

Experience and Engagement Manager

As Experience and Engagement Manager, Taryn is responsible for the engagement of clients and stakeholders through the strategic organisation of famils and key events. Taryn also leads and manages both member and client engagement activities to influence business outcomes. Taryn works within the marketing team to develop concepts to achieve increased engagement for both members and clients.

Elise Devereux

Marketing Coordinator

In the role of Marketing Coordinator, Elise provides essential marketing and communications support across the whole organisation. Elise assists in the execution of BET’s strategic marketing plans as well as specific sales and marketing campaigns, and digital and social campaigns. Elise has a broad range of marketing skills with specific focus in the digital sphere, having completed an honours degree in social media marketing.

Kerri-Ann Sturzaker

Executive Officer

In the role of Administration Assistant, Kerri-Ann will assist with many of the administrative and clerical tasks including providing support to our leadership team and other staff, assisting with daily office needs and managing BET’s general administrative activities. Kerri-Ann is a northern Tasmania local and is based in our Launceston office.

Melinda Schultz

Sales Executive

Melinda is based in our Launceston office but services the whole state. Melinda works with clients from the association and corporate market to secure business events to Tasmania both small and large, including incentive programs and corporate & association conferences. Melinda also represents BET at trade shows and in-market events, hosts site visits and famil programs and coordinates sales campaigns.

Emma Mapley

Sales Administrator

In her role as Sales Administrator, Emma oversees the sales administration tasks of BET, including data acquisition and analysis, CRM management, and the creation of important sales documentation. Emma works closely with BET’s membership and client base to effectively create bid’s proposals and tenders and assist with the management of site inspection itineraries.

Our Board

Dominic Baker

Chair

Dominic Baker brings significant experience in tourism and hospitality to the BET Board. Prior to his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Tasmania, Dominic spent thirteen years with the Federal Group in a number of roles, most recently as the General Manager Casino Resorts and Entertainment. Leading the strategic direction and successful operations of Tasmania's Wrest Point Hotel Casino and the Country Club Casino and Resort, Dominic was responsible for almost 1,000 staff.

Ralph Freckleton

Director

As General Manager of Tasmania’s largest conference venue, Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, Ralph is well placed to actively contribute to the Business Events Tasmania Board. His experience brings relative and current skill sets around event management, sales and marketing, IT, finance, governance and business management.

Professor Dominic Geraghty

Director

Professor Dom Geraghty holds the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Launceston) at the University of Tasmania, driving delivery of the Northern Transformation’s vision and strategic objectives for the city and region. Originally from Ireland, where he obtained a BSc (Honours) from the National University of Ireland, he completed a PhD at Deakin University in 1988. Dom moved to UTAS in 1991, researching and teaching for almost three decades.

John Fitzgerald

Director

John Fitzgerald is CEO of Tourism Tasmania. He has had an extensive career in senior executive management positions in the tourism industry in Australia. Previous to his appointment, John held the position of CEO at Tourism NT and was responsible for all aspects of the agency’s strategy and operations.

Paula Leishman

Director

Paula is the founder and Managing Director of Leishman Associates, an industry leading conference and events business based in Hobart and Melbourne. Paula has over 25 years’ experience in Conference and Event Management and is a Certified Event Manager through the Professional Conference Organisers Association; she is the Tasmanian Director of this peak industry body, and was the 2012 Telstra Business Women’s Awards Business Owner of the Year for Tasmania.

Nathan Darke

Director

Nathan Darke has been in the Travel and Tourism industry for over 20 years, bringing to the BET Board a diverse range of experience and expertise of the Tourism Industry. As a Director of a Nationally Awarded and respected Travel Agency, specialising in corporate and leisure travel, he oversaw its successful sale to an ASX listed Travel Management Company, along with joining their ranks in an executive capacity. Employed by Federal Group in early 2020, he now leads the groups Sales and Distribution Team including Conference and Events sales for the entire Federal Hotels and Resorts portfolio.

Tom McDevitt

Director

Tom McDevitt is the Principal Director of TM Management Group. This venue & events business was awarded the highly sought-after Princes Wharf 1 management contract by the Tasmanian Government in 2015. Tom attended the Hutchins School, going on to complete a Bachelor of Business Management and a Bachelor of Marketing. Tom is a passionate Tasmanian and a highly motivated individual. Tom is a member of the Variety Children's Charity Tasmanian board and is their Grants Committee Chair.

Matthew Cocker

Director

Matthew Cocker has an extensive career in aviation spanning across the last twenty years. Currently working as Chief Operating Officer at Hobart International Airport, Matthew has formerly held positions at Darwin International Airport and Qantas.

Theo Kapodistrias

Director

Theo Kapodistrias is a multi-award-winning lawyer having worked at UTAS for almost 6years and then progressing as General Counsel at UpGuard. As a lawyer, Theo has worked on major transactions and provides strategic and practical advice. Theo has board experience having been a non-executive director since 2017 with the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia. In addition, Theo is an Ambassador and Industry Champion with BET in recognition of bringing and organising national events locally. He’s also a speaker and has presented nationally and internationally at events and is now the Executive Director of TEDxHobart, bringing the event to Hobart.