PROGRAM & SPEAKERS
We're thrilled to unveil this year’s program for Conversion Plus.
This year, Conversion Plus will return with a renewed perspective on the events and sales industry.
Download the program to check out all the details.
This year, Conversion Plus will return with a renewed perspective on the events and sales industry.
Download the program to check out all the details.
OUR 2019 SPEAKERS
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BRIHONY DAWSON
MC Meet your host with the most, Brihony Dawson! We promise there won’t be a dull moment with Brihony leading the day. |
FRANK CAMORRA Executive Chef MoVida Frank Camorra is Executive Chef and co-owner of the MoVida group of restaurants. Born in Barcelona and later migrating to Australia, Frank was trained in some of Melbourne’s best restaurants. After spending time in Spain to rediscover his culinary roots, he returned to Australia to share his passion for Spanish cuisine with the diners of Melbourne. Today, Frank is the owner of four restaurants, has authored numerous cookbooks and appears regularly on shows including MasterChef and SBS’s Food Safari. www.movida.com.au |
BONNIE POWER CEO Perfect Boom Bonnie Power is a LinkedIn marketing strategist, speaker and trainer and is internationally known for bridging business strategy with personal branding. Delivering strong results on organizational objectives, Bonnie is passionate about online positioning and growing a business in the ‘new economy’. www.perfectboom.com |
MAGGIE DIASINOS Global Sales Director - MICE Hyatt Sales Force, Pacific Maggie Diasinos has over 19 years of experience in hotels, working for a number of well-respected brands including Mirvac, Rydges and IHG hotels. In her current role as Hyatt’s Global Sales Director - MICE, Maggie harnesses her passion for events and expertise in the MICE industry to partner with event agencies in creating memorable experiences around the world. www.hyatt.com |
NICOLE BATES Founder / Managing Director Event Sales Expert Conversion Management Conversion’s Founder and Managing Director, Nicole Bates is Australia’s leading expert in sales and management for the meetings and events industries. Driven by a passion to help make meeting and events businesses the best they can be, Nicole and her team work with clients to grab hold of their potential, to convert prospects into clients, and to help restaurants, venues and suppliers transform into profitable powerhouses. 
KATE SMITH Managing Director WALDRONSMITH Kate Smith is a founding Managing Director of WALDRONSMITH Management. As Managing Director, Kate brings to the role 35 years’ experience in the business events industry consolidating hotel and conference management. Kate offers substantial knowledge and expertise in the strategic planning and delivery of international and national conferences throughout Australia. www.waldronsmith.com.au 
KIRSTEN MACKELDEN Co Founder RealWeddings.com.au Kirsten MacKelden is a Co-founder of RealWeddings.com.au, a dedicated Venue Marketing Platform which delivers pre-qualified leads to Engagement venues, Wedding venues and Honeymoon venues. With 20 years experience building long term relationships with clients, she was named 'Business Owner of the Year' for Victoria at the 'Telstra Business Women's Awards', was an 'Ernst & Young' 'Entrepreneur of the Year' finalist and named 'Advertising Sales Person of the Year' at the Publisher's Australia Awards. www.realweddings.com.au 
ROD MICALLEF Director Zonzo Estate Rod Micallef is the Director of Zonzo Estate – an award winning wedding venue, restaurant and winery in the Yarra Valley. Growing up in a family who loved to entertain and prepare home cooked meals, Rod was destined to work in hospitality. After opening his first business - an Italian pizza restaurant in Abbotsford - at 19, Rod went on to open Zonzo in 2007. Today, Zonzo Estate remains a must visit destination in the Yarra Valley and has won National recognition as a top wedding venue. www.zonzo.com.au |
CAROL FOX Executive Coach Carol Fox & Co. As an Executive Coach, Conference Speaker and Masterclass Facilitator, Carol Fox has assisted thousands of people in improving their personal and professional lives through building confidence, finding motivation and learning better ways to communicate. For 30 years, she has collaborated with all levels of government, not-for-profit and corporate clients sharing practical, effective concepts from her best-selling book Confident Communication for Leaders. www.carolfox.com 
JULIA SWANSON Acting Chief Executive Officer Melbourne Convention Bureau Since joining MCB in 2010, Julia has led the business development, bidding, convention servicing, research and Government relations teams on the successful acquisition and delivery of some of the world’s largest and most prestigious business events. She has personally led the bids for some of the most highly acclaimed global medical conferences including the International AIDS Conference 2014, World Congress of Cardiology 2014 and the World Congress of Nephrology 2019. www.melbournecb.com.au 
PETER JACK Creative Director and Founder EMG Events Agency Peter Jack is the creative director, strategist and founder of award-winning event and design company, EMG Events Agency. From his 25 years in the industry, Peter is recognised as a strategic thinker. His deep knowledge facilitates authentic human connection between organisations and their audience. Under his leadership, EMG Events Agency has produced both event and design work across a plethora of industries: multi-national, government, NGO, not for profit and private enterprise. www.emgevents.com.au 
DAMIAN K. TEN BOHMER Founder & Managing Director World Coach Performance Damian has a part of the international hospitality industry for over 35 years, making a positive impact in every hotel, office, city or country where he has operated. With in-depth, first-hand experience, working his way from the bottom to the top - most recently as Senior Regional Director, covering the Middle East & Africa - he has a deep understanding of the industry and all that comes with it. Damian has now brought his natural leadership and unique experience into play as a Professional Business, Executive and Group Coaching. www.worldcoach.me |
NERINA PAPANASTASIOU Facilitator Conversion Management Nerina Papanastasiou is one of Conversion Management’s leading sales trainers, helping clients to realise their potential through their people, processes and product. Nerina has had over 20 years experience working in the hotel, meetings, catering and event industries in various sales leadership roles. With an ability to uncover attributes of a team and their unique selling points of their products, Nerina harnesses these qualities to help her client’s achieve success. 
LILIANA SANELLI CEO Perfect Events Liliana Sanelli is best known as the Perfect Connector. A strategic branding and event expert who has spent over twenty years working with some of the world's largest brands to create spectacular events; that inspire and delight audiences which creates unforgettable memories. Utlising her experience and creativity in branding, events and marketing, Liliana helps organisations build a compelling engagement strategy for their audience. www.lilianasanelli.com.au 
ENDA CUNNINGHAM Head of On Site Revenue Tennis Australia Enda has a background in managing luxury hotels and restaurants and has transferred that experience to the world’s leading sports and entertainment event, the Australian Open. Enda and his team have developed the AO pillars of food, hospitality, ticketing and tourism over the past number of years through creating innovative experiences and products. www.tennis.com.au 
MURPHY DUNGO Owner Pixel Space Murphy is the owner of Pixelspace, a newly founded design studio based in Melbourne committed to providing 3D visualisation solutions and design services to non-traditional spaces. Pixelspace provides the end-user with a creative and presentation advantage when engaged in creative projects by providing compelling virtual 3D presentations, from 3D still renders to 3D animations and virtual reality solutions. www.pixelspace.com.au |