Meetings magazine and SA Conference celebrates the women who have made their mark on the MICE industry. Everyday this week we will be highlighted eight of the phenomenal women who made the list. Today is the final eight. To the women on this list – we salute you!
- Join the conversation on Twitter#40WIM
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 1
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 2
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 3
- TOP 40 WOMEN IN MICE: PART 4
LINDY SCRUBIS
Co-owner of Event Affairs
Event practitioner
Lindy has been in the events industry for over 11 years. She began her career in London where she supervised service staff at events and got a good taste of what the events industry had to offer. Returning to South Africa with goal to eventually own her own events company, Lindy worked as a staff and event manager, then as an events coordinator for a magazine company to gain as much experience as possible. When she was retrenched in 2009, she knew it was time to start her own company โ and as the saying goes, โthe rest is historyโ. Lindy heads up the wedding and private event divisions at Event Affairs. Her dedication, commitment and passion for this industry has cemented Event Affairs as one of the top events management companies in South Africa.
FAST FACT Although her intentions were to become an actor, her passion for events took her life on a different path.
BRONWEN SHAW
Director of Sales and Marketing for the Crowne Plaza Johannesburg โ The Rosebank
Service provider: Venue
The passion Bronwen radiates for the MICE industry is clearly evident. She started her career working on cruise ships from 1987. Bronwen also worked for Sun International in between her long career at Avis, where she held positions in both sales and marketing. She currently sits on the Northern Territory Branch Committee for SAACI, is a board member on the National SAACI Board as well as a committee member on the Event Greening Forum. Bronwen remains focused on continuing to raise the profile of this country for delegates coming in, making sure that sustainability is consistent and maintained and growing and creating opportunities for all concerned in the business events sector.
FAST FACT She loves travelling, meeting new people, sharing knowledge and making a difference.
JACQUELINE STUMKE
Founder of PCO Alliance Network and owner of Jacqueline Stumke and Associates
Event practitioner
Jacqueline is a highly revered professional conference organiser with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Her first taste at an exhibition could have let a bitter taste โ the company was liquidated six weeks before the opening โ but her innate ability to run successful events ensured that the exhibitors who paid their 50% deposit still had a show. Jacquelineโs creative solutions, organisational skills and her hands-on approach have played a major factor in the success of her company. Seeing a need to share skills and ideas, she founded the PCO Alliance Network. Under her guidance and leadership the network has grown into a significant group of highly respected PCOs.
FAST FACT Jacqueline was an international model and travelled the world doing fashion shows and fashion shoots.
TERRY SUTHERLAND
CEO of The RSVP Agency and TS&A Events
Service provider/event practitioner
Terry Sutherland is the driving force behind the success of Terry Sutherland & Associates (TS&A) and The RSVP Agency. To improve the eventing landscape, Terry has invested in creating RSVP software that allows clients to communicate with their customers in a truly effective and unique way. In addition to the strides made by The RSVP Agency, Terry has continued to
grow TS&A, one of South Africaโs elite boutique agencies. Terry is a natural leader and entrepreneur. Staff describe her management skills as fair, fi rm and above all honest. Being creative is a way of life and a way of thinking that Terry brings to both companies. She is constantly on the lookout for new and exciting trends and shares these insights with her clients and staff .
FAST FACT Terry started her career in 1979 in the motor industry, selling BMWs.
LEATITIA VAN STRATEN
Marketing director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery
Event practitioner
Described as a remarkable colleague, leader and woman, Leatitia is the first female director of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery. She heads up the marketing and digital teams and is responsible for delivering audiences to more than 10 shows per year. She leads her department with great insight, passion and innovation. Under her leadership, the marketing department are constantly coming up with fresh ideas such as improved checklists and internal systems to new look-and-feels for shows and innovative new products like a marketing toolbox to assist exhibitors in making the most of every show.
FAST FACT As the shows she is involved with are varied, Leatitia is required to have relationships with various media houses and associations. This may seem as a challenge for some but Leatitia has truly exceled at this and has close relationships across various industry sectors.
KARMEN VLADAR
Marketing manager for Lumi (previously IML Interactive)
Service provider: event technology
Being able to turn what you love into a career is an opportunity a few people can realise. This is not the case for Karmen. She is passionate about educating the industry on the importance of event technologies and how event managers can incorporate them in their events. In 2009, she was invited to work at the head office of IML in the United Kingdom to help launch the IML Connector and gain international experience in the conference and events industry. She returned in 2010 and continues to take care of all marketing aspects of the business.
FAST FACT As soon as she completed her honours degree in marketing management at the University of Pretoria in 2005, she started working at Lumiโs first incarnation, Audience Alive as their marketing and logistics coordinator.
CAROL WEAVING
Managing director of Thebe Reed Exhibitions
Event and exhibition organiser/venue manager
Carol has worked in South Africaโs business tourism industry for the past 25 years โ from arranging exhibitions, events and conferences, to managing venues and facilities. Anyone who has ever worked with Carol will agree: the energy, passion and enthusiasm she exudes make it impossible to be a passive bystander with any project she tackles โ and completes. A self-confessed adrenaline junkie with seemingly boundless levels of energy, those closest to Carol can bear testimony to her commitment to living out her daily mantra of carpe diem. Carol has served as the chairperson of EXSA and has also been on the board of SAACI.
FAST FACT Carol has won numerous awards for her entrepreneurial spirit, including the Top Performing Business Woman of the Year at the African Access National Business Awards 2011.
TAMLYNNE WILTON
Director: Business development and marketing for MCI Group: South Africa
Event practitioner
With a professional background heavily concentrated in association strategy as well as conference and event management, Tamlynne brings an array of personal experience and partnerships to the table. Ever looking to challenge herself, Tamlynne boasts an impressive educational artillery; bearing distinctions in event and conference management, travel and tourism, negotiation, marketing and sales. She believes that conferences provide a powerful platform from which to affect change, motivate and inspire โ and this is why she continues to work in the industry. Exceptionally creative, Tamlynne is a strategic thinker, a surge of positive energy, and an asset to the industry.
FAST FACT Tamlynneโs passion and goal is to educate and help as many people as she can along the way.
