How to Become an Event Manager in Australia

What does a Event Manager do?

Event managers plan and deliver corporate events, conferences, festivals, trade expos, and private functions from concept through to post-event evaluation. They manage logistics, venues, suppliers, budgets, sponsorships, and on-site staffing while ensuring full WHS compliance for their events. The Australian events industry spans corporate, government, not-for-profit, and entertainment sectors, with strong demand for experienced professionals who can manage complexity at scale. Event managers are typically accountable for the entire delegate or guest experience.

Key responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and deliver events from brief to debrief
• Source and negotiate with venues, caterers, AV, and other suppliers
• Develop and manage event budgets and reconcile post-event financials
• Manage sponsorship relationships and partnership deliverables
• Produce run sheets, critical paths, and logistics plans
• Ensure WHS compliance and risk management for all events
• Evaluate event outcomes and deliver post-event reports to stakeholders

Qualifications for this role

Nationally recognised qualifications most commonly held by Event Managers in Australia.

Typical career progression

1. 1Events Coordinator → Events Manager
2. 2Events Manager → Senior Events Manager
3. 3Senior Events Manager → Head of Events / Conference Director

Skills in demand