“Roslyn was one of the pivotal early leaders of Australia’s business events industry,” said co-chair of the Australian Event Awards judging panel, Peter Rix.
“Her choices in her business led to the establishment of one of Australia’s major PCO brands that has shown Australian character and capabilities to the world through its work on international conferences.
“Her Lifetime Achievement Award is profoundly deserved and we’re delighted to be recognising and celebrating her immense contributions at this year’s Australian Event Awards ceremony.”
Following a Rotary exchange to Japan, McLeod became the first Japanese-speaking Australian tour guide for the Australian Tourism Commission – now Tourism Australia – in 1970.
She set up a tour guide business in 1971 that became known as Tour Hosts in 1973 and began offering interpretation and tour services and organising social programs for conferences in 1976.
After a big Australian bicentenary year in 1988, Tour Hosts became a fully-fledged PCO in the 1990s. The Arinex brand was created in 2009 when Tour Hosts merged with another company it had acquired in 2006 – The Meeting Planners.
Throughout half a decade in business, McLeod held leadership positions across the national and international business events industry, including with Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Tourism Australia, the International Conference Network (INCON), the International Association of Professional Conference Organizers (IAPCO), the Tourism Council of Australia and the South Australian Tourism Commission.
She also received multiple accolades recognising her contribution to tourism and meetings, including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1999.
McLeod will be presented with her award at Le Montage in Sydney next Wednesday evening, October 23, in a ceremony that will also announce winners of the best Australian event work over the last financial year.
There are 85 nominees vying for awards across best event, industry, achievement and management categories in this year’s Australian Event Awards.
