The Meetings Industry Association announces its miaList 2020 shortlist

The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has unveiled the shortlist for this year’s coveted miaList, which recognises inspiring individuals in the meetings and events industry.

The shortlisted nominees, who continually go the extra mile and play a pivotal role in making their organisation successful, are:

• Adam Loach, The Grand Brighton
• Adam Simpson, etc.venues
• Angena Devi, IET Birmingham: Austin Court
• Charlie Kelly, Chelsea Football Club,
• Claire Heap, Conference Leeds & Visit Leeds
• Joanna Lunn, Victory Services Club
• Judith Sloane, Meet Cambridge
• Marianne MacKinnon, University of St Andrews
• Marie O’Connor, Conference Oxford
• Rachel Azzopardi, Regent’s Conferences & Events
• Roman Turney, QEII Centre
• Sedia Rogers, The Kings Centre Ltd
• Simon Thatcher, Kents Hill Park

The individuals will now take part in a further virtual judging session with the miaList’s esteemed panel, which includes Gill Smillie of Conference Venues Countrywide, Robert Kenward of YOU search & select, Lacy Curtis-Ward, as well as Amanda Thurlow of ACCA, Julie Shorrock of Hotel and Travel Solutions, Dan Stevens of Primary Live and Paul Southern of Central Hall Westminster.

Jane Longhurst, Chief Executive of the mia, said: “The calibre of entries received this year has been superb. Reading about so many individuals that have shown outstanding commitment and passion in recent months strongly reinforces what we’ve been fighting for on behalf of our remarkable industry. We look forward to culminating a turbulent year with a celebration of this year’s worthy miaList in December and would like to thank all of the nominators for taking the time to appreciate and shine a spotlight on their deserving colleagues, peers and partners.”

On top of this year’s roll of honour, the miaList will also specifically recognise an inspirational individual who, against all odds, deserves special credit for managing their organisation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nominated teams will also be shortlisted by a panel in due course and will subsequently join an online public vote to help determine who will take this year’s Team title.

Further details about the shortlist and this year’s virtual miaList ceremony can be found here.