The PCO Alliance Network Celebrates 20 Years with a Spectacular Birthday Bash at Loft at Nine

The PCO Alliance Network commemorated its milestone 20th anniversary with an unforgettable celebration at Loft at Nine in Menlyn, Pretoria. The evening was truly a magical experience, beginning with breathtaking stilt-walking hosts welcoming guests with champagne and a talented violinist—also on stilts—delighting attendees with her music.

Adding to the glamour, all guests had the opportunity to capture the moment with professional photographs provided by Marina Du trio. The atmosphere was lively as delicious passed-around starters sparked conversations among members and guests, exchanging news and sharing in the festivities. Lizl Giacomozzi’s Gin Bar served fabulous handcrafted Comozzi Gin and St Blair Sugar Free Tonics, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Entertainment was brought to life by Dreamcatcher Entertainment and Congrazia Music, delivering lively performances that were seamlessly complemented by Loft at Nine’s state-of-the-art audio visual and lighting systems. The venue’s beautifully curated decor transformed the space into a captivating setting, creating an inviting ambiance. Unlimited Events did a phenomenal job in transforming Loft at Nine into a vibrant visual celebration, perfectly aligning with the evening’s celebratory theme.

Noni Mhlungu, the charming MC expertly guided the evening’s proceedings with flair, engaging guests and maintaining an energetic flow. A special highlight was the heartfelt video message from Jacqueline Stumke, founder of the PCO Alliance Network, whose warm words and passionate vision for the industry resonated deeply with attendees.

The evening continued with a welcoming address by the current PCO Alliance Network Chief Executive Officer – Melody Barber – who addressed the audience and expressed gratitude to members, volunteers, and partners for making the 20th anniversary a night to remember.

Melody warmly and passionately said:

As our fearless founder Jacqueline Stumke reminded us in her video – back in 2005 we started as a small group of professional conference organisers,  with big dreams, bigger hair, and an even bigger desire to raise the bar for event planning in South Africa.

Well, I think its safe to say – mission accomplished! We haven’t just set the standard, we have colour coded it, catered for it and send it home with a thank you gift!

Tonight I would like to acknowledge our current Members, both here in the room, and the one’s watching from home in their pyjamas with a glass of wine.  You are the true rock stars of this industry! Venue Tech did an amazing job of the live broadcast and videography.

Thank you for the heart, hustle and humour you have poured into this organisation over the years – without you we would just be a WhatsApp group with a logo.

To Our Industry Partners are here – thank you for choosing to be here.  We deeply appreciate your belief in the PCO Alliance Network, your daily collaboration with our members, and your generous support of this celebration, from gifts to discounts to donations

And to my amazing EXCO team – Ellen, Lizette, Cheryl, Clare and Lyett – Thank you!

These phenomenal women donate their time, talent and what’s left of their phone batteries, to keep the wheels of this Network turning smoothly”

The evening concluded with dancing to the vibes of Boki Ntsimi, and joy and anticipation for what the future holds for the PCO Alliance Network.  The members also left with such spoils by Event Sponsor Goodie Bags to put the final “cherry on the top”

Written by; Cheryl Norwood-Young, Director: PR and Communication

PCO Alliance Network