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Conference Innovators has celebrating a significant milestone this month, as the company marks 30 years of operation throughout New Zealand and Australia.
CI was established on 18 April 1995 by Megan Crum, with its very first international conference delivered only four months later. From the outset, the organisation fulfilled a need for professional event management services, achieving, within a short period of time, an impressive portfolio of annual conferences and meetings.
From humble beginnings, CI has flourished, becoming one of the premier Professional Conference Organisers in New Zealand, delivering more than 40 events per annum.
However, the organisation’s original mission statement – to provide clients with a professional, high quality, personalised service – has not changed over the past 30 years.
“We pride ourselves not only on our reputation as New Zealand’s leading conference organising company, but more so on the many enduring relationships we have with our clients” says CI director Tracey Thomas.
”The return of many repeat clients year after year is testimony to the success of the CI team in delivering on our promise to create exceptional events. These long-term relationships are what make our work truly special.”
The business events industry has seen significant change in the past 30 years, particularly the development of technology to streamline systems and enhance customer service.
The way people learn and engage is now instantaneous. One thing that has not changed is the need for people to come together and be inspired. Conferences create rare moments where diverse voices, ideas, and expertise converge in one space. This concentrated collaboration sparks innovation, breaks down silos, and opens doors to opportunities.
“We have experienced incredible advances in technology including the need for virtual and hybrid events in more recent years and continually strive to showcase the latest innovations”, says CI director Rachel Cook. “However, the underlying core purpose of events is bringing people together. It’s that simple. Facilitating meaningful connections and curating opportunities for engagement is pivotal to all events and remains paramount to our purpose as a team.”
There have been some challenges to overcome in the last few decades but remaining flexible and adaptable to an ever-changing events climate has been key to the company’s success and growth.
“Contingency planning and troubleshooting to achieve the best possible outcome is fundamental to what we do” says CI director Terri Lowsley. “But more importantly to us as a team is how we make people feel. For every project, we strive to go above and beyond to ensure our clients experience support, respect, kindness and hospitality.
“For CI, genuine Manaakitanga is the foundation for strong relationships and is integral to hosting memorable events.”
With a robust events calendar and strong, focused team, the future for Conference Innovators is bright – for the next 30 years and beyond.
