Geelong Conference & Event Management (GCEM) is led by Jade Pearce, who has 20 years of event management experience, including as an in-house event manager, with major agency WALDRONSMITH Management and as the leader of her own agency Evise.
“Clients want event partners who are on the ground, deeply connected to place and can deliver with senior capability,” said Pearce.
“Instead of resisting the shift—we’re leaning into it.”
The new PCO will offer the full scope of event management services, from event design to event tech and stakeholder engagement.
With Pearce relocating to Geelong, she is also committing to hiring local talent within the business.
“I’m passionate about creating truly flexible, meaningful roles for regional event professionals,” said Pearce.
“Too many experienced people leave our industry when they move regionally or want balance. GCEM is here to change that.
“We’re not parachuting in – we’re planting roots.
“For me, this is about building deeper client and supplier relationships, spending less time in the air working closer to home and becoming part of the community we serve.”
Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre will open in mid-2026, offering a 1,000-seat theatre and 3,700m2 of space.
There will also be a 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel within the convention centre precinct.
The convention centre is taking bookings for July 2026 onwards.
