Business for Millennium Development Summit

EMG managed an international event that brought some of the world's leading thinkers and captains of industry to our shores.

The two-day Business for Millennium Development (B4MD) Summit 2008 was a memorable event, with EMG managing everything from designing the website to delivering video conferencing links to the UN in New York.

A highlight of the opening panel discussion was a live satellite link with New York

The B4MD Summit 2008 aimed to challenge current business models and practices, and look at how Australian and Asian/Pacific businesses could take advantage of opportunities within B4MD.

This was an inaugural event for B4MD who appointed EMG to develop, manage and co-ordinate the two-day summit in Melbourne. The role included:

• Creating invitations and information flyers;
• Managing advertising and marketing strategies;
• Organising direct-mail campaign;
• Developing event program and scheduling;
• Sourcing venues;
• Processing registration of all delegates and speakers;
• Co-ordinating speaker requirements including international travel and accommodation requirements;
• Planning and operating all audiovisual aspects of the event; and
• Arranging instantaneous delegate feedback via networked laptop computers for each delegate on the day.

EMG also developed, with B4MD and its board, sponsorship packages, invitations and programs for the summit, all on-screen presentations and registration forms.

EMG worked closely with B4MD and its funding and endorsing partners, the Australian Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Program.

It was EMG's close working relationship with B4MD in the design, theme and concept of the summit and its associated events that brought about such successful outcomes for all organisations involved.

Additional events at the B4MD Summit 2008 included:

'8' World film premiere at Australian Centre for Moving Image Federation Square

EMG focused on the smallest details to deliver an unforgettable premiere to a memorable film.

'8' was a series of eight short films by eight international directors portraying each of Millennium Development's eight goals.

EMG engaged the services of SBS broadcaster Jenny Brockie to host the evening with Australian film and television veteran Noni Hazlehurst. EMG also flew in from Sydney, one of the stars of the film, Alice Englert, who spoke of her experience in the making of the film with her film director mother, Jane Campion.

'8' was to world premiere in Rome however EMG was able to arrange delivery of the film from Paris to Melbourne, so the film premiered, at Australian Centre for Moving Image Federation Square, as a prelude to the summit. The 400 guests enjoyed cocktails and then filled to capacity the largest cinema in the ACMI complex to view the film.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Breakfast held at Park Hyatt

About 100 guests attended a two-course breakfast. The aim of the event was to educate guests about PNG's business environment. The keynote speakers were PNG Minister for Commerce, the Hon. Gabriel Kapris, and the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Bob McMullen.

Summit held at Park Hyatt

The importance of this summit was not lost on EMG, who arranged the resources necessary for a thought provoking discussion to start the summit.

A highlight of the opening panel discussion was a live satellite link with New York to the former president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn. The event was officially opened by Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Stephen Smith and Victorian Premier Hon. John Brumby, followed by a panel session with six international corporate leaders.

The 150 national and international delegates who attended the summit shared information and ideas with 30 high-profile speakers from Australia, England, Holland, India, Philippines, Thailand and representatives of the United Nations.

Speakers, co-ordinated by EMG, included the CEOs and MDs of major Australian and international corporations including ANZ Bank, Macquarie Group, KPMG, Oxfam, IBM, World Vision, Asia Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS and International Business Leaders Forum. One of the keynote speakers for the summit was the Assistant Secretary General and Director, Partnership Bureau, United Nations Development Program.