Event Management Career Opportunities

There are many entry points into the events industry, from small-scale and community events to global super stages.

You’re organised, efficient, ahead of trends and live for the limelight as well as the behind-the-scenes drama of any event. How do you translate these highly sought after skills into a career in the multi-layered events industry, both in Australia and abroad?

You could find your niche in boutique events or corporate events, sophisticated or silly events. Your event management career opportunities could take the form of being part of a team, or going your own way and founding an events company.

Research* points to a burgeoning events industry that is not only recovering in a post-Covid world, but rebounding with enthusiasm. After being cooped up and cut off, people want to mingle and meet, which translates into more events, and more event management career opportunities for graduates of many different skillsets and interests.

Types of Event Management Jobs

With an ICMS Bachelor of Event Management, you are eligible to take advantage of a broad range of event management career opportunities.

According to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) research into the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality industries, the Top 5 Occupations in Demand in the events industry are: Event Coordinator, Venue Manager, Event Manager, Event Officer and Assistant Venue Manager.

Other career options include:

Event Producer, Event Director, Fashion Show Coordinator, Wedding Organiser, Incentive Manager, Festival Manager, Exhibition Manager, Conference Manager, Theming Consultant, Event Logistics Crew and more.

Event Coordinator

Event Coordinators are organisational specialists who pull together particular occasions such as meetings, festivals, weddings, conferences and exhibitions. According to seek.com, job growth in this area is up by 0.8%, there are 765 event coordinator jobs currently available in Australia, and job satisfaction is rated at 4/5. (Seek.com, August 2022)

Venue Manager

Responsible for the overall success of a venue – which range in size from cosy and small to enormous and intimidating – Venue Managers manage all operational aspects of the venue and staff. According to seek.com, there are 2562 venue manager jobs currently available in Australia. (Seek.com, August 2022)

Event Manager

Events Managers are professionals responsible for the development, coordination and organisation of occasions such as weddings, festivals, conventions, conferences, exhibitions, concerts and trade shows. According to seek.com, job growth in this area is up by 0.8%, there are 1668 event manager jobs currently available in Australia, and job satisfaction is rated at 4.2/5. (Seek.com, August 2022)

Wedding Planner

Wedding Planners help couples successfully plan their wedding day and see that everything runs smoothly. As a wedding planner, your responsibilities include establishing a planning timeline and working with clients to choose everything from attire, to ceremony and reception venues, music, and food.

Festival Manager

Festival Managers are in charge of setting up on-site offices, maintaining relationships with food, liquor, and merchandise vendors and coordinating festival staffing. They also ensure the festival receives adequate insurance coverage, and work with other top-level execs to project potential income and risks for the event.

Work experience gives the edge in the hunt for event management jobs

Internships offer the best chance for you to shine in front of future employers.

All ICMS degrees, including the Bachelor of Event Management, include industry training (internships) with ICMS industry partners as part of the degree. This means you graduate having already worked in the business. The ICMS Work Integrated Learning (WIL) team will place you in an internship best suited to your interests.

ICMS industry partners with an events focus include:

Fairfax Events & Entertainment

Australian National Maritime Museum

Walt Disney

Admire Events

Expertise Events

Fourth Wall Events

Sydney Film Festival

Neon Model Management

HoneyLane Event Planning and Design

Gandhi Creations: Multicultural Marketing & Events

BT

Northern Beaches Council

Watch ICMS alumna Melissa Coller speak about her ICMS industry training at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney where she spent nine months working in their Banquets Department while still a student. Melissa is now an Event Manager at the Australian branch of cievents, a global strategic corporate event management agency.

Can internships turn into an event management career opportunity?

If you’re wondering whether an ICMS WIL placement could turn into a fulltime role, the answer would be, it’s possible!

For example, several ICMS students on industry training at ICMS industry partner Gandhi Creations have stayed on to work fulltime for the company. Read all about it here.

Where have recent ICMS Event Management Graduates found event management career opportunities?

ICMS Event Management lecturer Katrina Denoux revealed where ICMS Bachelor of Event Management graduates have found event management career opportunities in the following areas:

* As a Sports Event Co-ordinator: Youth Olympic Games 2024 Paris;

* As part of the Trade Exhibitions team with Reed Exhibitions;

* Event co-ordinator at Turnitin Education Events;

* Event co-ordinator at WOBI Business Events; and

* Wedding function co-ordinator at the iconic Opera House in Sydney.

“These are examples of Event Management jobs that our ICMS recent alumni have been successful in,” Denoux said.

“These are students who have graduated within the past couple of years, who did not have much industry experience, so it shows the excellence of our ICMS industry-ready education. This list also shows the breadth of the global events industry across several sectors, of which our students become experts in.”

Read ICMS Bachelor of Event Management alumna Hannah Chadwick’s story of securing a fulltime role with Paralympics Australia after graduating.

Read about ICMS Bachelor of Event Management student Sophie Burgess’ experience of interning at the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort, where her favourite task while working on the island was the setting up and styling of the events. She reveals: “I have the opportunity to interact with guests every day. I’ve met and served some really wonderful people including Aria Award winner Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell, who are such lovely people.”

Pick the ICMS Event Management course that’s right for you

With the right education, industry connections and a high level of motivation, event management career opportunities are there for your taking.

Watch ICMS Event Management lecturer Katrina Denoux explain the 3 top reasons why you should study event management at ICMS.

Undergraduate: For more information on the ICMS Bachelor of Event Management, click here.

Postgraduate: For more information on ICMS Graduate Certificate in Event Management, click here.

Postgraduate: For more information on the ICMS Master of Event Management, click here.

For more information on the Aspire Diploma of Event Management, which is a standalone qualification or a pathway to an ICMS degree, click here.

* The employment level for Conference and Event Organisers more than tripled between 2001 and 2019, increasing from 11,400 to 38,700. Employment levels declined significantly to 24,400 in 2020, before increasing to 25,900 in 2021. Employment levels are projected to increase to 46,900 by 2025. – Australian Industry and Skills Committee: Tourism, Travel and Hospitality