BizParade Media Pty Ltd

About Us

Technology has changed the way we/the world functions. Information and knowledge today is free and accessible at the click of a button, it’s what you do and how you use that information and knowledge that makes you different. I founded www.londonmice.co.uk two years ago. A not –for-profit organisation to help small companies in the MICE industry build their businesses and in turn build and professionalise the industry. The site received over 350,000 hits last month (June 07), 20 per cent of which were from outside of the UK. Our user base is growing at an average of 15 per cent every month and members are getting exposure, receiving business leads, networking and collaborating with one another, I’m pleased to see this concept being replicated in Australia, we look forward to collaborating with you.

Richard Waddington
Cluster Champion LondonMice & CEO First Protocol
www.firstprotocol.com

WHY BIZPARADE?

More than 22 million people attend over 300,000 business events worth more than $AU17 billion in Australia each year. Yet despite being one of the world’s premier business destinations, Australia has no one central guide where planners across the globe can research their event or meeting. BizParade uses an established and successful business formula to develop this huge area of opportunity.

WHO IS BEHIND BIZPARADE.COM.AU?

BizParade Media Pty. Ltd is the brainchild of media and events dynamo Lindy Andrews. Lindy developed BizParade following a proven track record managing international and domestic conferences and events, sourcing and generating new business and publishing industry magazines.

Establishing BizParade.com.au’s editorial integrity is Crystal James who has over 10 years experience in the advertising and media industries. She has attended hundreds of events and worked on a handful as well, and her business, media, advertising and journalism qualifications will be well utilised sourcing, writing and producing quality content for our audience.

Supporting the key BizParade players are first-class freelance reviewers and writers and a customer relationship management team who work directly with subscribers and vendors.

     CEO - Lindy Andrews
Lindy's event, marketing conference, and production expertise has taken her from Cairo to Capetown and beyond. She has a reputation for turning small businesses into thriving companies with million dollar margins and made her first foray into publishing with a printed hybrid of wotif.com and travel trade, which kept agents and exec assistants across Australia informed of the latest special hotel offers. Combining industry knowledge, experience and contacts in the areas of new business, marketing, client relationship management (buyers), and human resources, BizParade is her latest venture.

       Editor and Host - Crystal James
Crystal has attended hundreds of events and worked on a handful as well, and with over 10 years media experience, her journalism qualifications will be well utilised sourcing, writing and producing quality content for our audience. Crystal relaunched Catalog magazine in 2003 with the vision to bring credible editorial to the free street press market. She began her career in publishing at Vogue magazines, later working in advertising in Melbourne, London and Sydney, and as a freelance fashion stylist, writer and editor. Following a 12-month stint project managing the launch of Smirnoff’s global event series, Smirnoff Experience, she now brings her love of print publishing and events online.

            Emma Moss
Emma Moss has been an active player in the media industry for over a decade. Working for many of the top dogs in the industry as well as freelance, she has moved successfully across a variety of different mediums including television, radio and digital/online. She has worked predominantly in the areas of creative production and communication/pr and prides herself as a great people person with organisational skills that border on the obsessive compulsive.
She began and ended her pre-BizParade life as a Producer in radio, where she was adept at turning her hand to formulating large scale, “water cooler” events and promotions. In between she worked for companies such as ABC TV, Austereo, ARN, Network Ten & XYZ Networks (Foxtel). Emma sees BizParade as an exciting and dynamic opportunity - the perfect place to utilise her wealth of diverse experience and skills, applying them in her position as Special Projects Director.

Felicity Kitson
Felicity Kitson is a freelance copywriter and journalist who has battered sentences into shape for clients ranging from Tourism Australia to Dolly magazine. She had a regular fashion section in Bondi’s The Beast magazine and writes arts features for the City Hub and City News. Felicity worked with BizParade on early business plans and press releases and now regularly contributes interviews, product and event reviews. She cites seeing Australia’s music glitterati backstage at the 2007 ARIAS as one of the highlights of the gig. This year Felicity completes her Masters in Creative Writing at UTS. With 2008 also set to be a big year for BizParade, she's looking forward to working some hard-earned creativity into more stories on Australia’s most exciting events.

Maria Mourikis
Maria Mourikis has just completed her first journalism internship with Bizparade and she has excelled herself. So much so, we are keeping her on as editorial co-ordinator.
This is her story... Since then I have gone on to fall in love with writing about events! I've completed a huge list of venue reviews, event reviews and other fun articles for BizParade, my favourite being a profile on hilarious corporate comedian Anh Doh.
Before BizParade I worked for a promotions company called LAM live where I completed campaigns for Defence Force, Telstra and Fairfax. This year I will be completing my double degree in Media & Communications and Commerce, majoring in Journalism, Management and minor in International Business. I hope to continue writing in the events and lifestyle industries when I finish my studies.

Jon Hopwood
As a graduate of International Marketing sponsored by General Motors, Jon began his career at Vauxhall in the UK/Adam Opel AG in Germany and performed a variety of Marketing Communications and Brand Management roles.

Jon moved ‘agency side’ in 1996 with Jack Morton Worldwide and since then has worked with a variety of Event Management projects in the UK, mainland Europe, the US, Middle East, Far East and Australia.

Having completed a Masters in Strategic Marketing, Jon designed and delivered a programme on ‘Managing Change’ for City University and was Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) in Events Management at the University of Greenwich, London.
In 2004, Jon founded a training and communications consultancy which also supplies freelance account/project management services to the Events industry.

Jon is currently undertaking his PhD incorporating engagement in live events and will, under the Monash University umbrella produce research White Papers for BizParade Media.

An example of some of the other organisations Jon has designed and executed hugely successful campaigns for:

• First Protocol Event Management (UK and France)
• The Institute of Direct Marketing (UK)
• The London Business Forum (UK)
• Vodafone (UK & The Netherlands)
• Mazda Cars Ltd (UK)
• Volkswagen AG (Europe & UK)
• Hewlett-Packard (UK & Germany)
• Cadillac (Europe & US)
• Fiat/Alfa Romeo (UK)
• National Australia Bank (Australia)
• Cox Marketing Solutions (Australia)

BIZPARADE EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

BizParade strives to be as objective, accurate and balanced in its news coverage as possible.

BizParade editorial is not influenced by advertisers or other commercial partnerships and interests.

We protect confidential sources, but identify information sources in detail where possible.

BizParade accepts press trips only on the condition that our journalistic freedom and integrity are not compromised. Our resulting story will not be influenced by hospitality.

BizParade staff do not use their position to secure personal benefits or discounts, without prior written approval from their publisher.

Sponsored content, including advertising features, supplements and partner editions, are clearly marked as such to prevent reader confusion about its purpose and source. Editorial comment and opinion are also identified as such.

Editorial copy can only be changed or approved by a BizParade journalist, editor or publisher. Clients or other sources must have prior written authority from the publisher to edit or endorse content.

Technology has changed the way we/the world functions. Information and knowledge today is free and accessible at the click of a button, it’s what you do and how you use that information and knowledge that makes you different. I founded www.londonmice.co.uk two years ago. A not –for-profit organisation to help small companies in the MICE industry build their businesses and in turn build and professionalise the industry. The site received over 350,000 hits last month (June 07), 20 per cent of which were from outside of the UK. Our user base is growing at an average of 15 per cent every month and members are getting exposure, receiving business leads, networking and collaborating with one another, I’m pleased to see this concept being replicated in Australia, we look forward to collaborating with you. Richard Waddington Cluster Champion LondonMice & CEO First Protocol www.firstprotocol.com WHY BIZPARADE? More than 22 million people attend over 300,000 business events worth more than $AU17 billion in Australia each year. Yet despite being one of the world’s premier business destinations, Australia has no one central guide where planners across the globe can research their event or meeting. BizParade uses an established and successful business formula to develop this huge area of opportunity. WHO IS BEHIND BIZPARADE.COM.AU? BizParade Media Pty. Ltd is the brainchild of media and events dynamo Lindy Andrews. Lindy developed BizParade following a proven track record managing international and domestic conferences and events, sourcing and generating new business and publishing industry magazines. Establishing BizParade.com.au’s editorial integrity is Crystal James who has over 10 years experience in the advertising and media industries. She has attended hundreds of events and worked on a handful as well, and her business, media, advertising and journalism qualifications will be well utilised sourcing, writing and producing quality content for our audience. Supporting the key BizParade players are first-class freelance reviewers and writers and a customer relationship management team who work directly with subscribers and vendors.

		CEO - Lindy Andrews Lindy's event, marketing conference, and production expertise has taken her from Cairo to Capetown and beyond. She has a reputation for turning small businesses into thriving companies with million dollar margins and made her first foray into publishing with a printed hybrid of wotif.com and travel trade, which kept agents and exec assistants across Australia informed of the latest special hotel offers. Combining industry knowledge, experience and contacts in the areas of new business, marketing, client relationship management (buyers), and human resources, BizParade is her latest venture.

		Editor and Host - Crystal James Crystal has attended hundreds of events and worked on a handful as well, and with over 10 years media experience, her journalism qualifications will be well utilised sourcing, writing and producing quality content for our audience. Crystal relaunched Catalog magazine in 2003 with the vision to bring credible editorial to the free street press market. She began her career in publishing at Vogue magazines, later working in advertising in Melbourne, London and Sydney, and as a freelance fashion stylist, writer and editor. Following a 12-month stint project managing the launch of Smirnoff’s global event series, Smirnoff Experience, she now brings her love of print publishing and events online.

		Emma Moss Emma Moss has been an active player in the media industry for over a decade. Working for many of the top dogs in the industry as well as freelance, she has moved successfully across a variety of different mediums including television, radio and digital/online. She has worked predominantly in the areas of creative production and communication/pr and prides herself as a great people person with organisational skills that border on the obsessive compulsive. She began and ended her pre-BizParade life as a Producer in radio, where she was adept at turning her hand to formulating large scale, “water cooler” events and promotions. In between she worked for companies such as ABC TV, Austereo, ARN, Network Ten & XYZ Networks (Foxtel). Emma sees BizParade as an exciting and dynamic opportunity - the perfect place to utilise her wealth of diverse experience and skills, applying them in her position as Special Projects Director.

		Felicity Kitson Felicity Kitson is a freelance copywriter and journalist who has battered sentences into shape for clients ranging from Tourism Australia to Dolly magazine. She had a regular fashion section in Bondi’s The Beast magazine and writes arts features for the City Hub and City News. Felicity worked with BizParade on early business plans and press releases and now regularly contributes interviews, product and event reviews. She cites seeing Australia’s music glitterati backstage at the 2007 ARIAS as one of the highlights of the gig. This year Felicity completes her Masters in Creative Writing at UTS. With 2008 also set to be a big year for BizParade, she's looking forward to working some hard-earned creativity into more stories on Australia’s most exciting events.

		Maria Mourikis Maria Mourikis has just completed her first journalism internship with Bizparade and she has excelled herself. So much so, we are keeping her on as editorial co-ordinator. This is her story... Since then I have gone on to fall in love with writing about events! I've completed a huge list of venue reviews, event reviews and other fun articles for BizParade, my favourite being a profile on hilarious corporate comedian Anh Doh. Before BizParade I worked for a promotions company called LAM live where I completed campaigns for Defence Force, Telstra and Fairfax. This year I will be completing my double degree in Media & Communications and Commerce, majoring in Journalism, Management and minor in International Business. I hope to continue writing in the events and lifestyle industries when I finish my studies.

		Jon Hopwood As a graduate of International Marketing sponsored by General Motors, Jon began his career at Vauxhall in the UK/Adam Opel AG in Germany and performed a variety of Marketing Communications and Brand Management roles. Jon moved ‘agency side’ in 1996 with Jack Morton Worldwide and since then has worked with a variety of Event Management projects in the UK, mainland Europe, the US, Middle East, Far East and Australia. Having completed a Masters in Strategic Marketing, Jon designed and delivered a programme on ‘Managing Change’ for City University and was Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) in Events Management at the University of Greenwich, London. In 2004, Jon founded a training and communications consultancy which also supplies freelance account/project management services to the Events industry. Jon is currently undertaking his PhD incorporating engagement in live events and will, under the Monash University umbrella produce research White Papers for BizParade Media. An example of some of the other organisations Jon has designed and executed hugely successful campaigns for: • First Protocol Event Management (UK and France) • The Institute of Direct Marketing (UK) • The London Business Forum (UK) • Vodafone (UK & The Netherlands) • Mazda Cars Ltd (UK) • Volkswagen AG (Europe & UK) • Hewlett-Packard (UK & Germany) • Cadillac (Europe & US) • Fiat/Alfa Romeo (UK) • National Australia Bank (Australia) • Cox Marketing Solutions (Australia)

BIZPARADE EDITORIAL GUIDELINES BizParade strives to be as objective, accurate and balanced in its news coverage as possible. BizParade editorial is not influenced by advertisers or other commercial partnerships and interests. We protect confidential sources, but identify information sources in detail where possible. BizParade accepts press trips only on the condition that our journalistic freedom and integrity are not compromised. Our resulting story will not be influenced by hospitality. BizParade staff do not use their position to secure personal benefits or discounts, without prior written approval from their publisher. Sponsored content, including advertising features, supplements and partner editions, are clearly marked as such to prevent reader confusion about its purpose and source. Editorial comment and opinion are also identified as such. Editorial copy can only be changed or approved by a BizParade journalist, editor or publisher. Clients or other sources must have prior written authority from the publisher to edit or endorse content.