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.

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 – Trade & Strategic Alliances

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.

Michelle Gilroy-Webb

Membership Manager

The first point of contact for all membership inquiries; Michelle is responsible for member recruitment and retention as well as coordinating member functions, exhibits and seminars.

Meredith Farrer

Marketing & Communications Manager

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

Laura Curtain

Experience and Engagement Manager

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

Taryn Reid

Business Development Manager

Taryn 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. Taryn also represents BET at trade shows and in-market events, hosts site visits and famil programs and coordinates sales campaigns.

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.

Iola Mauderer

Research Coordinator

Iola’s key responsibilities are to identify bid opportunities, make contact with potential clients and to research, analyse and input data into the CRM database.

Kerri-Ann Sturzaker

Administration Assistant

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.

Our Board

Mark Kelleher

Chair

Mark Kelleher is a respected industry leader, who draws on his extensive experience in international business, investment and trade, tourism, corporate governance and stakeholder management. Mark’s previous roles include CEO of the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Secretary of the Tasmanian Government Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts, and prior to this a number of senior roles in the renewable energy sector.

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.

Dominic Baker

Director

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.

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.

Sarah Thomas

Director

After several years in hospitality Sarah graduated with a degree in marketing and human resources and went on to own a café and retail business. Sarah has since worked extensively within the tourism and hospitality industry in sales and marketing roles including for Business Events Tasmania, RACT and in her current role as Director of Marketing at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. Sarah is also President of Skal International Hobart, a worldwide organisation for travel and tourism professionals.

Maria Lurighi

Director

Maria has over 40 years Hospitality Industry experience. Until recently in the role of Guest experiences and Partnerships Director at Mona. During 18 years of living and working in Tasmania she has also held the positions of senior management in the Wine industry, Business Development Manager for 10 Days on the Island and General Manager for Hill Street Grocer West Hobart. Maria has worked on a number of boards across Industry and the Arts, including Wine South, Festival of Voices, and Tasmanian Youth Orchestra.

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.