Business Events Adelaide Forms New Bidding Team

With the South Australian State Government delivering Business Events Adelaide an increased funding allocation, the expanded bid team is now coming together.

Business Events Adelaide CEO Damien Kitto says “the State Government’s investment in the organisation has been much welcomed, and is a clear signal that the Government sees business events as a sensible no-risk high-return investment in the State’s economic future.”

“Business Events Adelaide is now working into the ‘Department of the Premier and Cabinet’ as an economic growth rather than a tourism entity. Our worth delivering an economic tail for the State’s priority sectors out of the business events we strategically win, is now an established fact. We well understand the responsibility to deliver, that this increased faith and investment in us brings.”

The new bid team (both International and Domestic) is led by
 Jakki Govan who joined the organisation late in 2022. Ms Govan has an enviable reputation both domestically and internationally in sales and marketing as well as an understanding of how to win business events, and of their economic value.

Casey Smith, already well-known and equally well respected by clients after five years with Business Events Adelaide, has been promoted to International Director of Bidding.

The International bid team comprises:

Helen Xu, Director of Sales Asia, who has been working in Asia and Australia for more than 20 years (based between Sydney and China) and who has joined the team because of her love for Adelaide and SA.

Mark Phelps, Manager Business Development, who after more than 10 years with the South Australian Tourism Commission has chosen to move to Business Events Adelaide enthused by the economic impact from business events. 


Peumi Peiris, Manager Business Development, who after more than 15 years with the Sri Lankan Convention Bureau (and two years at Flinders University) returns to the city she fell in love with and the State which supported her with a scholarship to study here. 


The Domestic bid team comprises:

Chantel Kistenkas, Manager Business Development, responsible for the Sydney market. She is an experienced professional with a commercial sales background and is a passionate South Australian.

Edgar Navarro Parez, Manager Business Development, responsible for the Melbourne market. He has been part of the Business Events Adelaide team for four years and arrived from Mexico 12 years ago.

Sara King, Manager Business Development, is responsible for the remainder of the Australian markets. She has 15 years of industry experience across business development and sales in South Australian five star hotels, as well as in the associations sector.

Marcia Mudge, Director Events and Services, brings more than 20 years’ experience delivering events in both the public and private sectors. Marcia will work with business event organisers to amplify their events while in South Australia; ensuring they create connections with our members, government and industry, and contribute to our thriving economy.