Tassie’s Leah Muir Announced as Staff Scholarship Winner

Leah Muir, Business Development Manager at Business Events Tasmania has been awarded the prestigious AACB Staff Scholarship for 2017/18. The Scholarship was announced earlier this month at the AACB Annual Conference AIME Gala Dinner held at Frogmore Creek Vineyard in Hobart, Tasmania.

The AACB Staff Scholarship is designed to offer middle to senior level bureau staff an opportunity to demonstrate their professional commitment to the business events sector by delivering a project which highlights innovation and excellence.

With her winning proposal to gain enhanced knowledge of destination marketing software and customer relationship management systems for effective implementation within convention bureaux, Leah is set to travel to the United States to attend the Simpleview Summit 2018 in Arizona.

The scholarship is co-sponsored by Tourism Australia and Qantas. Both recognise the important role that convention bureau play in attracting business events to Australia and therefore see this scholarship as an investment in the future leadership of the industry.

Penny Lion, Executive General Manager Events at Tourism Australia, congratulated Leah on her success in winning the Scholarship.

Ms Lion said, “Tourism Australia is proud to support the development of our industry, knowing that it will deliver benefits for Australia. Congratulations to Leah on winning the Staff Scholarship this year; we look forward to hearing about the destination marketing insights gained from her project.”

AACB CEO, Andrew Hiebl said, “AACB is committed to the professional development of emerging leaders within its membership. I would like to congratulate Leah on winning the staff scholarship and wish her all the best as she delivers her project for Business Events Tasmania and the broader convention bureau network.”

Leah Muir said, “I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to meet with fellow colleagues from around the world, and the chance to bring back experience and knowledge that will not only benefit Business Events Tasmania but the national bureaux more broadly”.

The scholarship runner-up was Jill Wimberley, Senior Coordinator, Business Development and Bidding at the Brisbane Convention Bureau.

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Photo (from left to right): Kelly Maynard, Distribution Development Manager - Business Events, Tourism Australia; Tina Evans, National Account Manager, Qantas; Leah Muir, Business Development Manager, Business Events Tasmania; Karen Bolinger, President, AACB; Jenny Viali, Business Tourism Executive, Qantas; Andrew Hiebl, CEO, AACB.

For further information:

Annika Hofsink, Marketing & Communications Executive
M: 0437 460 809
E: annika.hofsink@aacb.org.au