November 1, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
The national awards program for Australia’s public and business events wrapped its 12 day “festival of awards” last night by revealing the winner of the Australian Event of the Year as EY Secrets of the Archibald 2020 delivered by Jack Morton Australia. Rizer was also awarded Event Management Organisation of the Year.
Doing things their own way, as is becoming expected, this year’s award winners have been announced a few at a time each evening since October 20, in bitesize videos on the Event Awards YouTube channel.
Bringing just the right amount of pep and charm to the presentations was MC and comedian Sammy J, who provided a consistent thread through 12 nights of awards presentations. The awards also featured appearances from co-chair of the judging panel Peter Rix and major awards partner Coates.
Before the announcement of the final award last night, Rix congratulated all winners and finalists from 2021.
“Winning one of these awards is no easy feat. The level of innovation, excellence and reinvention is higher than ever,” he said.
“All of the 2021 finalists and winners should be immensely proud of their accomplishments.
“2022 is not far away and we hope to see your achievements next year in a freer and more audience intensive world.
“May we celebrate with every one of you in person at a live event ceremony some time in 2022.”
Despite an unpredictable year for the industry, big names were amongst the finalists and winners, including Imagination, Adelaide Fringe, The Brisbane Truck Show, Nectar Creative Communications and The Electric Canvas.
Best Live or Hybrid Corporate Event
Winner: Class of 2020: Celebrate Together, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Finalists:
Australian Defence Industry Awards 2020, Momentum Connect, National Event
Harley-Davidson Pan America Media Launch 2021, The Shift, New South Wales
Brisbane Truck Show 2021, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Queensland
JHCPBG Barangaroo Crossover Cavern Events 2021, Eventify Pty Ltd, New South Wales
Best Online Event Delivery Platform
WINNER: EventsAIR for OnAIR
Best Virtual Small Event
Winner: EY Secrets of the Archibald 2020, Jack Morton Australia
Finalists:
Ashurst CPD Boost 2021, Synergy Effect
Clinical Labs End of Year Celebration 2020, We are Phoenix
Best Achievement in Marketing or Communication
Winner: Northern Territory Major Events Company for their work on Parrtjima – a Festival in Light 2021
Finalists:
Bar Pop for their work on FACTORY SUMMER FESTIVAL 2020/2021
Bar Pop for their work on Perth Craft Beer Festival 2020
Best Virtual Congress, Conference or Exhibition
Winner: Igniting our Future Conference 2021, Peanut Productions
Finalists:
EY Transformation Realised 2021, Jack Morton Australia
Supply Nation Connect 2021, Fourth Wall
National Insurance Brokers Association Virtual Convention 2020, Spaces Interactive
Committee on Space Research Scientific Assembly 2021 (43rd), ICMS Australasia
Best Achievement in Studio Management
Winner: Big Picture for their work at the Big Picture Live Event Studio
Finalist:
Connected Event Group for their work at the Connected Event Studios
Best Virtual Corporate Event
Winner: Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices Annual Sales and Training Meeting 2021, Eventful Meetings and Events
Finalists:
FTA Virtual Conference 2020, Treasury Re-Imagined, KE Creative Events
Carat Couch-ella 2021, MKTG
General Motors Speciality Vehicles Corvette and Silverado Launch 2021, Jack Morton Australia
Love Your Work Conference 2020, We are Phoenix
Best Live or Hybrid Congress, Conference or Exhibition
Winner: Brisbane Truck Show 2021, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Queensland
Finalists:
World of Drones and Robotics Congress 2020, Carillon Conference Management Pty Limited, Queensland
Ozwater’21, Australian Water Association, South Australia
Best Technical Achievement in a Live or Hybrid Event
Winner: ORACLE – LIQUID PTY LTD for their work on Sea World Carnivale 2021
Finalist:
Bar Pop for their work on SNACK Showgrounds: New Year’s Eve 2020
Best Innovation, New Product or New Service
Winner: Evise and Pyrus for their work on Know My Name Conference 2020
Finalists:
VenuesLive for Stadium Park Karts
Imagination for Australian Wine CONNECT
EventsAIR for AIRCast Studio
Ferve Tickets Pty Ltd for their Hybrid Event Platform
Best Virtual Public Event
Winner: University of Tasmania Virtual Open Day 2020, Spaces Interactive
Finalists:
Seven Sisters Virtual Festival 2020, We are Phoenix
Love Your Work Conference 2020, We are Phoenix
Best Virtual Brand Event
Winner: Salesforce Live Series 2020/2021, The Company We Keep
Finalists:
Personalisation Through the Generations 2021, Synergy Effect
AWS Summit Online Australia and New Zealand 2021, Imagination
Telstra Vantage Remixed 2020, Imagination
Best Charity or Cause-Related Event
Winner: Gibb Challenge 2021, Karunjie Event Management Pty Ltd, Western Australia
Finalists:
Telethon Family Festival 2020, Optus Stadium, Western Australia
CareerTrackers Leadership Development Institute Conference & Gala Awards Night 2021, The Company We Keep
Change the World 2021, Hancock Creative, National Event
Preventing Cervical Cancer 2021 Virtual Conference, BKA Events Pty Ltd
Best Technical Achievement in a Virtual Event
Winner: Big Picture for their work on Dally M Awards 2020
Finalists:
CrowdComms for their work on Australian Council for Educational Leaders 2020 Global Conference and ACEL Early Childhood Conference 2021
Eventful Meetings and Events for their work on Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices Annual Sales and Training Meeting 2021
Evise and Pyrus for their work on Know My Name Conference 2020
Coates Best Community Event
Winner: Coogee Live 2021, City of Cockburn, Western Australia
Finalists:
RACQ MotorFest 2021, Queensland
City of Perth Christmas Lights Trail 2020/2021, Western Australia
Sun Run 2021, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales
Luminight 2021, City of Joondalup, Western Australia
Best Live or Hybrid Brand Event
Winner: DoorDash Delivers for the State of Origin I, II, & III 2021, MKTG Sports + Entertainment, New South Wales & Queensland
Red Bull Balloon Dive 2021, The Shift, New South Wales
Borat Subsequent MovieFilm stunt 2020 for Amazon Studios, Amazon Prime and Event Eleven, Rizer, New South Wales
The Hendrick’s Most Unusual Balloon Bar 2020, Havas Blvd, New South Wales
Best Achievement in Design
Winner: The Electric Canvas for their work on Brisbane City Hall Christmas Projections
Finalists:
2020 Gold Lotto City Hall Lights Spectacular
We are Phoenix for their work on Love Your Work Virtual Conference 2021
Nicholas Tory and the Ample Projects Design Team for their work on The Mini Beasts 2020/2021
Best Regional Event
Winner: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021, Northern Territory Major Events Company
Finalists:
Byron Music Festival 2021, Byron Music Productions Pty Ltd, New South Wales
‘Light Up Orange’ – NYE LASER, Light and Sound Show 2020, LASERVISION, New South Wales
Artstate Wagga Wagga 2020, Regional Arts New South Wales
Horizon Festival 2020, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Queensland
Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event
Winner: Parramatta Lanes 2020, City of Parramatta, New South Wales
Finalists:
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021, Northern Territory Major Events Company
Adelaide Fringe 2021, South Australia
Shining a Light: The Story of Us 2021, City of Perth, Western Australia
Perth Festival 2021, Western Australia
Best Live or Hybrid Small Event
Winner: Airwaves – The Drive-In Music Festival 2020, Buskers by the Creek Inc, Queensland
Finalists:
James Hardie Australia Business Conference 2021, Synergy Effect, National Event
Summer X Salt Markets 2020/2021, Salty Events Pty Ltd, Western Australia
Wine Tasting Fest 2020, Kenvale College of Hospitality, Cookery & Events, New South Wales
Best Live or Hybrid Public Event
Winner: Adelaide Fringe 2021, South Australia
Finalists:
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021, Northern Territory Major Events Company
WA Day Festival 2021, Lux Events, Western Australia
Santos Festival of Cycling 2021, South Australian Tourism Commission
For The Love – URBNSURF 2021, Untitled Group, Victoria
Taste of the Beaches 2021, Northern Beaches Council, New South Wales
Small Event Management Organisation of the Year
Winner: Nectar Creative Communications
Finalists:
Erin Madeley Consulting
Caroline James Events
JEM events
We are Phoenix
Event Management Organisation of the Year
Winner: Rizer
Finalists:
The Company We Keep
Imagination
The Shift Corp
AGB Events Pty Ltd
Australian Event of the Year
Winner: EY Secrets of the Archibald 2020, Jack Morton Australia
Finalists:
Adelaide Fringe 2021, South Australia
University of Tasmania Virtual Open Day 2020, Spaces Interactive
Brisbane Truck Show 2021, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Queensland
Igniting our Future Conference 2021, Peanut Productions
DoorDash Delivers for the State of Origin I, II, & III 2021, MKTG Sports + Entertainment, New South Wales & Queensland
Salesforce Live Series 2020/2021, The Company We Keep
Class of 2020: Celebrate Together, The University of Sydney, New South Wales
Johnson and Johnson Medical Devices Annual Sales and Training Meeting 2021, Eventful Meetings and Events
Airwaves – The Drive-In Music Festival 2020, Buskers by the Creek Inc, Queensland
Gibb Challenge 2021, Karunjie Event Management Pty Ltd, Western Australia
Coogee Live 2021, City of Cockburn, Western Australia
Parramatta Lanes 2020, City of Parramatta, New South Wales
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light 2021, Northern Territory Major Events Company