Despite two of BECA’s members – Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) and the Professional Conference Organisers Association (PCOA) – yet to indicate they will join the new association, there was a unanimous vote at a special meeting last week to de-register BECA and cease its operations at the end of this financial year.
The other three members of BECA, the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA), the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) and the Australian Convention Centres Group (ACCG) are all founding members of the new association ABEA.
“In its 30 years as the peak body for business events, BECA has built a stellar list of achievements; it has been the unified voice in the industry’s advocacy to government and has been the key driver of the industry’s vital research studies to demonstrate the size and scope of the sector,” said BECA chair Leo Jago.
“BECA has made these achievements despite its limited resources; it has punched well above its weight.”
The fundamental shift in the Australian business events industry’s voice has come following a review of BECA prompted by the challenges by the industry during the pandemic.
The consultant-led review led to the development of the just-announced association, which aims to provide a single advocacy voice and one-stop-shop of industry resources for business events stakeholders.
“The global pandemic challenged Australia’s business events industry and highlighted the need for a well-resourced peak body to foster the growth of business events via a focus on research, advocacy, and professional development,” said Jago.
“BECA and its many achievements provides a solid platform upon which a new and better resourced peak body will support business events in the decades to come.
“BECA’s legacy will live on.”
