Susan Harris, BBus(Mktg) is our Event Director and the key contact throughout the duration of the contract. Susan has more than 22+ years’ experience in organising events and marketing for a wide range of sectors. Her extensive experience gives her a hands-on and in-depth understanding of the needs of member-based associations, not-for-profit organisations, and Government processes and protocols. One of the advantages of working with Susan is that it’s her business – she has a vested interest in working in partnership with clients to ensure the success of their event, and in building long-term relationships.
As an Event Manager, she has organised more than 450 events ranging from national and international conferences (from 30 to 1,300 people and with complex speaking programmes), exhibitions (from 15 to 100 booths), a series of Expos (total attendance of 45,800+ over 9 locations throughout Queensland for State Government), workshops, through to gala dinners, cocktail parties, awards nights. Susan is instrumental in the success of key conferences and projects.
In June 2023 (for the 2021-2022 qualifying period), she was she was awarded the following awards from Meetings & Events Australia (MEA):
- The prestigious Platinum Event Professional of the Year
- National Event Manager of the Year (PCO)
- Queensland Event Manager of the Year (PCO)
Susan has previously been awarded the Queensland Event Manager of the Year in 2018 and National Meeting Manager of the Year in 2012.
ACCREDITATION
Since 2007, Susan has been an Accredited Event Professional (AEP) with MEA. In May 2023, she was received the Certified Event Manager (CEM) accreditation with the Professional Conference Organiser Association (PCOA).
This makes her the only PCO/Event Manager in Queensland with accreditation from two key industry associations as well as being multi-award wining Event Manager.
As an Event & Marketing Manager, Susan has 22+ years’ experience. She started her event and marketing career working in an advertising agency, then in marketing co-ordination roles in the association and not-for-profit sector – all while studying part time for her Bachelor of Business (Marketing) degree. At Aged Care Queensland she led a team of five who managed all marketing, events and business development for the association. After that role, she worked as Conference Manager for a large PCO firm before starting AEM in January 2007 and hasn’t looked back.
Susan is extremely proud of the achievements made while owning and managing AEM – from starting without any clients, she has built the business into a widely-respected PCO firm with repeat clients, high level of referrals and a reputation as a leading, ethical and transparent event management company.
She has spent time as a Teacher (Martin College), and a Tutor (TAFE Queensland Brisbane), mentored young event professionals, as well as presenting at events and has run an Event Management Masterclass.