6 August, 2020

MCEC hosts virtual idea generation hackathon for venue’s future

More than a hundred innovators and thought leaders from the events industry have taken part in a virtual idea generation hackathon as part of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s inaugural ‘Unconventional Ideas’ event.

The event brought together in-house experts, as well as customers and stakeholders within the sector, to workshop and pitch business ideas for MCEC to a panel of esteemed judges.

The panel included Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp; AFL star, television personality and hotelier Luke Darcy; and MCEC chair and former Victorian Premier John Brumby.

While the ideas that came from the process remain top secret for the moment, many of them dealt with new and unexpected ways to use MCEC’s world-class facilities, award-winning expertise and enviable location on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River.

“MCEC Unconventional Ideas is a first for our business and is designed to position MCEC for success in the future, ensuring we remain an industry leader, a preferred partner and a innovative, successful business,” CEO Peter King said.

“The past two-and-a-half days have been an opportunity to shape a new future for MCEC, our industry and maybe even our city.”

King said the event mirrors a new way of working currently being used at MCEC, in response to the impact of coronavirus restrictions on events around the world.

“Like many in the event sector, we found ourselves unable to perform our core business, so we made the decision to embark on a ‘business relaunch’ journey to secure MCEC’s future in this ‘new normal’ that we find ourselves in,” he said.

“Over a condensed two-and-a-half days, MCEC Unconventional Ideas participants experienced an intensive version of the idea exploration process that all MCEC initiatives are currently following. It’s an exciting and dynamic way to work.”

Teams with a mix of MCEC employees and external partners worked across 12 ideas, with the event culminating in a final pitch to the judging panel.

Helen Fairclough, who was recently appointed as MCEC’s director of business relaunch, said that it was heartwarming to see a number of the venue’s valued partners taking part in the initiative.

“We believe the secret to ongoing success is great partnerships,” she said.

“It’s working with employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders who are willing to be brave, to innovate and to disrupt.

“We invited creative thinkers and entrepreneurial minds, industry leaders and achievers, the analytical and the innovators, and asked them to submit their unconventional ideas and were blown away by the response, with well over 50 ideas submitted.”

The four winning ideas from MCEC Unconventional Ideas will now proceed to the next phase of further exploration or delivery, with more details to be announced as they progress.

Featured image source: MCEC/Peter Bennetts

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