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| Brooke Campbell, Monica Kent-Giles, Silke Calder |
The two senior appointments come as AIME continues to expand its influence across the Asia Pacific business events sector and prepares for AIME 2027, which will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 15 to 17 February 2027.
AIME is Asia Pacific’s largest and longest-running business events exhibition and learning platform, bringing together business event professionals, destinations, convention bureaux, hotels, venues, event suppliers and other industry specialists. For 2027, AIME is targeting more than 25,000 meetings involving more than 800 exhibitors and 1,600 vetted buyers.
New Leadership to Drive AIME 2027 Forward
AIME Event Director Silke Calder, who enters her seventh year leading the AIME team, says the appointments of Kent-Giles and Campbell will add new expertise and perspectives as the event continues to grow.
The expanded leadership structure is designed to further strengthen the quality of connections between exhibitors and buyers while enhancing the overall experience for the international business events community.
AIME has experienced significant growth in recent years. Its 2026 edition welcomed more than 5,000 attendees, more than 765 exhibitors representing 36 countries and territories, and more than 1,500 vetted buyers. More than 25,000 pre-scheduled meetings took place across the two-day trade show.
With this growth comes an increasing need to maintain the quality of the meetings and relationships that sit at the heart of the AIME experience.
Monica Kent-Giles Brings Global Marketing Experience
Monica Kent-Giles joins AIME as Marketing Director, bringing extensive executive experience spanning brand management, internal and external communications, digital marketing and events across the Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and United States markets.
Her career began with the Melbourne Convention Bureau, giving her an early connection to the business events sector. She subsequently held senior marketing positions with News Corp in the United Kingdom and Australia, the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association, Melbourne Airport and PMY Group.
Her combination of marketing, communications and events expertise provides AIME with additional capability as the event seeks to strengthen its profile in international markets.
Having attended AIME over many years, Kent-Giles has experienced first-hand the energy and business opportunities generated by the event.
She says joining the organisation at this stage represents an exciting opportunity to help further elevate AIME's global presence and build on the strong connections the event has established within the business events industry.
Brooke Campbell Takes on Newly Created Buyer Engagement Role
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| Brooke Campbell, Silke Calder, Monica Kent-Giles |
Campbell brings more than 20 years of experience across hotels, wholesale, corporate business, events, convention centres and destination bureaux.
Her previous senior roles include Director of Business Events at Experience Gold Coast, Sales Manager for Australia at the New Zealand International Convention Centre and Manager of Associations and Exhibitions at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the home of AIME.
Her experience across different sectors of the business events industry gives her a broad understanding of the needs of both buyers and suppliers.
Campbell says her priority will be to enhance the buyer journey while maintaining AIME's reputation for connecting exhibitors with carefully selected decision-makers who are ready to do business.
This focus is particularly important as AIME continues to grow its hosted buyer and meeting programs. The 2027 event is expected to feature more than 1,600 vetted buyers, 800-plus exhibiting organisations and more than 25,000 planned meetings.
The Buyer Journey Remains at the Heart of AIME
AIME's approach is built around creating meaningful business connections rather than simply providing a traditional exhibition floor.
The event uses human expertise combined with artificial intelligence to match exhibitors and buyers, with exhibitors benefiting from pre-scheduled appointments with carefully vetted buyers. This approach is intended to make meetings more relevant, productive and commercially valuable for participants.
For AIME 2027, the Hosted Buyer Program will again provide a structured pathway for qualified business event professionals to discover destinations, venues, accommodation, event technology, attractions, airlines and other suppliers while developing new business relationships.
The program includes matched meetings, networking opportunities, access to the Hosted Buyers Lounge and educational experiences designed to provide insights into the future of business events.
AIME 2027 Returns to Melbourne in February
AIME 2027 will begin with Knowledge Monday on Monday 15 February, followed by the AIME Welcome Event that evening.
The two-day trade show will take place on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 February at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the AIME Ideas Academy on the Floor providing practical insights and educational sessions throughout the exhibition.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will once again provide the setting for the event, reinforcing Melbourne's position as one of Australia's leading destinations for conferences, incentives, exhibitions and corporate events.
AIME is owned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and managed by Talk2 Media & Events, with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as its venue partner.
Building the Future of Business Events in Asia Pacific
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| Brooke Campbell, Silke Calder, Monica Kent-Giles |
As business events become increasingly international and planners seek more personalised, productive and measurable connections, the ability to bring the right buyers and suppliers together has become central to the success of industry trade shows.
Kent-Giles' marketing and brand expertise and Campbell's extensive buyer and business events experience provide complementary strengths for AIME as it prepares for its next chapter.
Their appointments also reflect the evolution of AIME from a traditional trade show into a broader business events platform incorporating meetings, education, networking, technology and curated connections.
For exhibitors, buyers and destinations looking towards 2027, the strengthened AIME leadership team signals an ongoing commitment to quality, relevance and meaningful business outcomes.
Melbourne Ready to Welcome the Global Business Events Community
With AIME 2027 scheduled for February, preparations are already well underway for another major gathering of the Asia Pacific business events community.
The event will provide opportunities for destinations, hotels, venues, convention bureaux, airlines, attractions, event technology companies, destination management companies and other suppliers to meet qualified buyers and showcase their products and experiences.
For business event professionals looking for new partnerships, destinations and ideas, AIME 2027 is set to once again provide an important meeting point for the regional and international meetings industry.
With new executive leadership now in place, AIME is preparing to raise the bar once again when the global business events community gathers in Melbourne in February 2027.
AIME
Website: www.aime.com.auEmail: aime@talk2.media
Phone: +61 493 505 631
Address: Level 14, 380 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
For buyer enquiries, AIME lists Brooke Campbell, Buyer Engagement Director, as a contact for the Hosted Buyer program.
For more information about AIME 2027, visit AIME 2027.
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