PCMA Announces Chairman’s Award Winner for 2017

The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced today the winner of the 2017 Chairman’s Award.

President of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS) and Chief Executive of East West Planners Singapore, Janet Tan-Collis, has received the award today at PCMA’s Convening Leaders event in Nashville.

Presented by Mary Pat Heftman, 2017 Chair of PCMA Board of Directors, the award recognises individuals or organisations for their unique achievements and contributions to the business events industry over the previous year. Singaporean Tan-Collis has been recognised for her commitment to improve the industry and her involvement in driving education opportunities for emerging event professionals in the APAC region.

Tan-Collis stood out among industry professionals for her dedication to inspire and mentor the next generation of business event professionals, as well as her outstanding initiative, alongside her executive committee, to successfully create and deliver the Singapore MICE Challenge, which saw its third edition in July 2017.

At the Singapore MICE Challenge, taking place during the Singapore MICE Forum, teams of students across Singapore majoring in business and events had to produce a realistic and competitive event proposal. In return, they had the chance to win a fully-sponsored trip to this year’s PCMA Convening Leaders event in Nashville. This opportunity meant they could network with more than 4,500 meetings industry professionals and learn from the innovative knowledge sessions and high-profile speakers. 

For the first time this year, both the winning and the second placed teams attended the PCMA conference and had the opportunity to present their innovative event proposals in front of an industry-led audience and key media. 

Mary Pat Heftman, Chair, PCMA Board of Directors, said: “The success of the Singapore MICE Forum and the Challenge is testament to the relationship between SACEOS and PCMA, uniting for the same purpose of investing into education and the future of our industry. Janet’s long-standing experience, her mentorship and advocacy of industry education and professional development, make her the perfect honouree for this year’s award.”

Photo: Janet Tan-Collis - photo credit Jacob Slaton