The event saw a who’s who of the events industry come together including leaders of convention centres, destinations and associations, as well as Arinex staff past and present.
Messages from those around the world with whom Arinex has worked had also poured in, making for a fitting celebration of one of the longest journeys in Australia’s business events landscape.
Addressing the crowd of supporters, Arinex founder Roslyn McLeod, said it had “only taken 20,345 days” to get to the 50th anniversary of the company.
McLeod expressed thanks to all who had been part of the Arinex journey to date, and acknowledged both the various elements that had contributed to her success and the success of the business, which she has passed on to current managing director Nicole Walker.
“I did work hard, but not without the luck of having some amazing team members,” said McLeod, adding that Arinex would not exist without the help of her mother and sister.
“Constant reinvestment in the company has been a necessity to forge new business and keep at the cutting edge,” she said.
“I’m proud of the achievements and grateful to the team for their successes.
“In business events we talk a lot about legacy. The best legacy to come out of 50 years is the relationships and friends created and maintained.
“I’ve run my race and I now leave the company in the capable hands of Nicole Walker. If I can take credit, together with [sister] Lorraine for one major accomplishment, it was identifying Nicole as a possible future leader for Arinex,” said McLeod.
A new brand for Arinex was also unveiled at the event, by Walker, who assurances to the crowd that the company’s signature pink uniforms were here to stay was met by a relieved cheer.
“Our new logo is a symbol of our vision for the future – to continue building genuine connection and success stories for our clients through inspiring experiences. It features a modern design that reflects our progressive outlook,” said Walker.
“The simplified tagline, ‘Inspiring Experiences’ emphasises our passion for delivering on our clients’ ambitions.
“Arinex has a proud history of delivering exceptional event solutions for our clients around the world. Our refreshed brand stays true to our legacy while emphasising our commitment to innovation, creativity and connection,” she said.
Through its 50 years, Arinex has worked on and been involved with many pivotal Australian events including 1988 Australian Bicentenary, 1995 Global Cultural Diversity Conference, Corroboree 2000 and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
