The Bizzies 2026 Celebrate New Zealand’s Business Events Industry in Christchurch

The second edition of Aotearoa’s Business Events Awards brought 245 industry professionals to Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, recognising achievements across seven categories and paying special tribute to industry veteran Eugene Fraser.

New Zealand’s business events community gathered at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre on 28 October for the second edition of The Bizzies, an awards programme recognising the people, organisations and partnerships shaping the country’s business events sector.

Held alongside the annual BEIA Conference and supported by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), the gala dinner welcomed 245 guests. Broadcasters and journalists Mike McRoberts and Melissa Chan-Green hosted the ceremony, which recognised achievements across seven categories spanning professional development, marketing, sustainability, innovation, partnership and the wider impact of business events.

The awards reflect the breadth of an industry in which successful events depend on collaboration between venues, suppliers, organisers, destinations and the professionals working behind the scenes. For steering committee co-chairs Rachel Cook and Alana Bicknell, the range of finalists was a particular highlight.

“It was fantastic to see the range of talent and achievements represented in this year's finalists,” they said.

“There is so much hard work, creativity and collaboration that goes into delivering successful business events, and much of that happens behind the scenes. The Bizzies are about recognising those people and teams, celebrating what they achieve and showcasing the contribution our industry makes to New Zealand."

Recognising the people behind the industry

The 2026 winners represented a broad cross-section of New Zealand’s business events landscape. Zoe Lloyd of Food Envy received the Emerging Business Events Professional Award, while Sharon Auld of BEIA was recognised in the Exceptional Business Events Professional category.

The Legacy Impact Award went to Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, The Conference Company and ChristchurchNZ. The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) received the Outstanding Marketing Award, while Venues Wellington, in partnership with FillGood, won the Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award.

The Innovation Award recognised the 10th IWA-ASPIRE Conference and Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2025. The Outstanding Partnership Award went to Auckland University of Technology – Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

A separate highlight of the evening was the presentation of BEIA’s 2026 Outstanding Contributor Award to Eugene Fraser (right side), General Manager of Peek Exhibitions. The recognition acknowledged his 24 years leading one of New Zealand’s established family-owned exhibition businesses, whose history is closely connected to the development of the country’s business events industry.

BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins highlighted Fraser’s contribution not only as a business leader but also to the wider development and governance of the sector.

“This year we acknowledged and thanked Eugene, who for the last 24 years has led New Zealand's highly respected, family-owned firm Peek Exhibition, an organisation whose history is intricately tied to the development of New Zealand's business events industry,” she said.

“Over the years, Eugene has played an integral role in developing industry standards and contributing to governance at an Australasian level - all while leading a business that is now in its third generation of family ownership.”

The distinction provided a further opportunity to recognise the experience and long-term commitment that underpin the sector, complementing the awards presented to this year’s finalists and winners.

Cook and Bicknell also acknowledged the organisations supporting the programme and the contribution of those involved in assessing the entries.

“We want to thank all our sponsors and acknowledge the generous time of our wide collection of judges from all sectors of the industry,” they said.

With its second edition, The Bizzies continues to provide a platform for recognising the work and partnerships behind New Zealand’s business events industry, bringing together the professionals and organisations whose contribution extends across the country’s events ecosystem.
 

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