MEA CEO announces resignation
Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) has announced that Chief Executive Officer, Robyn Johnson, has resigned from her role effective 12 November 2020 and will be relocating to the NSW South Coast.
As a CEO, Ms Johnson rebranded MEA’s flagship annual conference as ‘Evolve’ and positioned it as a key event on the industry’s calendar, launched a scholarship program to educate NSW regional students, grew MEA’s National Awards program and launched the Celebration of Excellence publication, and developed a new website and CRM platform for the organisation.
Ms Johnson commented, “It has been a privilege to work with the MEA membership and stakeholders and I am extremely proud of what has been achieved on behalf of our industry.
When I became CEO, MEA was going through an extremely challenging period. With support from the industry, in particular MEA’s partners, the Board and branch committees we were able to rebuild the organisation and continue developing and delivering new programs to support our members and the broader industry”.
Kate Smith, MEA Chair of the Board, commended Ms Johnson’s work, “On behalf of the Board, branches, partners and members, we are grateful to Robyn for her tireless work and passion as CEO. She has re-engaged our members, partners and the broader industry during her four years and the programs and services created are greatly valued.”
Ms Johnson mentioned that due to the serious impact of COVID-19 to the events industry, she is leaving with much ambivalence. However, she is confident that things will return to a “new normal” and that MEA will continue to be the leading body of education, training and advocacy for the industry.
Ms Johnson described her resignation as a ‘long planned ‘escape to the country’’. She said, “I am not disappearing, just relocating – and I certainly intend to continue to work in the events industry. But I’ll be taking a short break to move and to settle into a new home and a new community. As a long-standing member and supporter of MEA I will of course continue to advocate in the interests of our industry and assist MEA whenever possible”.
Ms Smith further commented on Ms Johnson’s departure, “We thank her for all the work she has done and we wish her every success for her move and her next step in her career”.
Taken from Meetings & Events Australia media release October 2020.
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