At the AGM hosted at the Australian National Maritime Museum, BESydney reported:
- 69 global and national meetings were held which attracted 51,000 delegates generating an estimated $216 million in direct expenditure for the state.
- 69 new business events secured and expected to attract 61,000 delegates generating an estimated $217 million in direct expenditure
- By 30 June 2024, the BESydney team had secured a pipeline of confirmed business to 2030 comprising 58 global and national business events expected to attract 101,000 delegates to Sydney generating an estimated $401 million in direct expenditure.
Chair Professor Mary O’Kane AC said, “Business events play a vital role in driving local and national visitor and knowledge economies and the numbers for this financial year attest to the success of BESydney’s work. Our Team Sydney partners’ collaboration contributes to these results as together we champion this incredible city.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to be the first to pay tribute to our CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith and to thank her for her stewardship of this great organisation. She has led BESydney with vision and integrity over the past 12 years and the business events industry globally, is better for it.”
“While leading this organisation for more than a decade, I have always believed in this industry and the impact it has on the world.
The new Government presents a strong outlook for the organisation in the coming year. The industry, stakeholders, my team and my family have been the reason I have stayed for over 20 years, and I will continue to be a passionate advocate for Sydney.”
– CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith
During the Meeting, new Board Member Nathan Cox, Vice President Operations NSW & ACT, Accor, was ratified and Michael Magafa, Commercial Director APAC, Encore Event Technologies was appointed. These appointments replaced Member Director, Emma Bowyer from ICMS Australasia, who concluded her three-year term, stepping down officially at the AGM, and Marcus Hannah from Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems who resigned from his position in August this year.
The Board will commence the global search for a new CEO shortly as part of a planned transition. Lyn Lewis-Smith will continue to serve as CEO until the end of June 2025 to ensure an orderly progression.
 for financial year (FY) 2023/2024 and announced that Lyn Lewis-Smith will step down.){kind=link}