AIME (Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo) will this year play host to one of Australia's biggest and most ambitious events of 2015 – a celebration of the evolution of the spoken word throughout the last half century and beyond.

Taking place on Tuesday 24 February at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Australia Speaks will feature 22 of Australia's most renowned and influential speakers and performers from Saxton, the country's first and foremost speakers' bureau.

Hosted by Mike Munro, guests will be treated to a packed two hour program boasting many of the country's most notable personalities, reflecting Australia's rich and varied history. Highlights include:

• BUSINESS – Mark Bouris, Rod McGeoch, Gary Pert and Steve Vamos
• SPORT – Layne Beachley
• MEDIA – Ita Buttrose
• ECONOMICS – Satyajit Das and Chris Caton
• INNOVATION –Rachel Botsman, Megan Quinn, Craig Davis and Remo Giuffr é
• EXPLORATION –Graeme Joy and Tim Cope
• HEALTH – Michael Carr-Gregg
• PEACE ACTIVISM – Gill Hicks
• ILLUSION – Vinh Giang

As part of that history, guests will also be treated to musical performances from soul singer Darren Percival, beatbox phenomenon Tom Thum, singer-songwriter and INXS frontman Ciaran Gribbin, and award winning vocalists Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell .

Following the event, audience members will be invited to attend a networking after-party, where they will have the chance to meet and speak with the presenters.

Saxton Managing Director, Winston Broadbent, describes the opportunity as a one-of-a-kind event.“The event promises to be a fantastic opportunity to not only hear from a highly diverse group of presenters, but to interact and discuss ideas with them afterwards. With Australia Speaks, we wanted to give attendees a sense of the heritage of the spoken word in Australia and to be part of a very unique and exhilarating milestone celebration.”

Jacqui Timmins, Exhibition Director at AIME and CIBTM, said: “We are proud to host such a prestigious event this year at AIME. Saxton events are always a highlight of our Knowledge program and showcase a diverse range of speakers who are highly inspirational and educational for all in attendance. It is also a great opportunity for meetings and events industry professionals who are regularly seeking new and exciting talent for events.”

Australia Speaks will be held on Tuesday 24 February from 5.15pm to 7.30pm at the Plenary 3, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tickets are available to purchase online for the cost of $89 per person, inclusive of entry to AIME, champagne on arrival, a commemorative gift and entry to the Movers and Shakers after party at the brand new Community Hub.

For more details and information on presenters, visit saxton.com.au/australia-speaks. For all other enquiries regarding the event contact Lauren Stokes on (02) 8968 6650 or at lstokes@saxton.com.au.

For further information on AIME 2015, please visit the website or contact Ogilvy PR for AIME 2015.

Robyn Challands                                                                                 

E: robyn.challands@ogilvy.com.au

P: +61 3 8695 3505

Jessica Minear                                                                        

E: jessica.minear@ogilvy.com.au

P: +61 3 8638 2193

About AIME

The Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) is owned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), a business development organisation, with its core function to secure international and national conferences, incentive travel reward programs and other business events for the Australian state of Victoria. AIME brings associations and event planners from around the world to Melbourne annually for a two-day networking event where the best meetings and incentives destinations and products are showcased to the industry.

The show is managed by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world's leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry, with a wide-ranging portfolio of 20 international events in 13 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Its market-leading, business-to-business events cover all elements of travel and tourism, including leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, events, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel. RTE is part of Reed Exhibitions.