
As the premier body for event professionals in Australia and New Zealand, the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCOA) has hosted an annual three-day conference every December since 2008 ā bringing together hundreds of event professionals to network, learn, and lead.
In December 2024, Brisbane hosted the 16th edition of the event ā PCOA24 ā with a theme that captured the industry’s momentum: Accelerate: People. Technology. Experience.
Offering a curated mix of keynotes, panels, and workshops, the event aimed to equip attendees with practical insights and a forward-thinking perspective.
āOur goal with PCOA24 was to give our members a strategic advantage for the year ahead ā and help shape their long-term careers,ā said Maxine Tod, Director of Business Partnerships. āThis yearās theme encouraged us to not only look at emerging issues in our industry, but also how we respond and adapt together.ā
The event attracted over 550 professionals from across the region, with extensive networking opportunities and space to explore pressing topics like sustainability, mental wellbeing, community impact, and tech-driven change.
āBeyond networking, we also wanted to ensure PCOA24 was a celebration of our industry,ā shared Cindy Axisa, Administration Manager. āSocial events, entertainment and lots of fun make for a vibrant conference, creating lifelong memories for attendees.ā
High expectations from a highly discerning crowd
Hosting a conference for professional conference organisers comes with a unique level of pressure.
āHolding an event for professional event organisers can be intimidating ā theyāre a very discerning group,ā said Maxine. āThey know what good looks like, so expectations are always high.ā
Thatās why the PCOA team is always looking for ways to deliver fresh, high-caliber experiences ā and why theyāve trusted EventsAir as their platform partner for nearly a decade. According to PCOA, EventsAirās robust, all-in-one functionality makes it an ideal choice for delivering high-caliber events for conference professionals.
āWeāve used EventsAir for many years ā not just for our annual conference, but for a wide range of events and membership management,ā Maxine shared. āThe platform gives us everything we need to run complex events confidently and professionally. Whatās more, the EventsAir support team is always available to assist with any questions or issues we may encounter in the leadup and during the event.ā

A trusted platform that delivers
These days, serious event professionals require an all-in-one event management platform like EventsAir to be successful ā especially considering how quickly things can change when youāre planning an event. For the PCOA team, the ability to manage content, registration, communication, and reporting in one place is essential.
āWith so many moving parts, you need a system that keeps everything connected,ā said Cindy. āWe value how EventsAir supports real-time updates and helps reduce the chance of human error when changes happen close to the event.ā
Having one platform also means less complexity when it comes to managing partners, speakers, and delegates. At PCOA24, the team enhanced this even further by integrating trusted supplier solutions directly into EventsAir ā connecting with Sprintr for onsite check-in and badge printing and Entegy for their event app. This streamlined approach allowed real-time updates to flow automatically across platforms, giving attendees a professional, connected experience from arrival to final session, while saving the PCOA team time and ensuring accuracy behind the scenes.
āThe flexibility and scalability of the platform means we can customise the experience year-to-year, without reinventing the wheel,ā Maxine added.
And when questions come up, the EventsAir support team is close by.
āHaving 24/7 support ā especially in the lead-up and during the event āĀ gives us real peace of mind,ā said Maxine. āWe know help is just a few clicks away.ā
Delivering an exceptional event ā and looking ahead
With overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, the PCOA team is proud of what they delivered in 2024.
āPCOA24 was one of our strongest events yet,ā Maxine said. āThe conference, the speakers, the energy ā it all came together beautifully, and EventsAir played a big role in that.ā
As the industry continues to evolve, PCOA remains committed to delivering impactful, future-focused events, supported by a platform partner they know and trust.
About PCOA
PCOA is the premier organisation representing event management professionals across Australia and New Zealand.
PCOA offers a community specifically for event planners. Its objectives are to increase the standard of professionalism of its members and promote a better understanding of the roles, functions and contributions of professional conference organisers, event managers and other practitioners in the conference and event sector.
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