Australia

Fernando Lonergan - Manager, CWT Meetings & Events/Leisure Pacific Zone

Fernando Lonergan is the Australian and New Zealand Manager of Carlson Wagonlit Travel's Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Event (MICE) department known as CWT Meetings & Events (CWT M&E). In this role Fernando oversees all aspects of the CWT M&E team from sales, marketing, client management, operations and financial management with the aim to deliver our clients a seamless and exceptional program that meets their event and business objectives.

Fernando has over 15 years experience in domestic and international business events and tourism across both private and government organisations. Fernando has hands-on event management experience delivering client conferences incorporating sponsorship sourcing and management, registration and one to one appointment schedule management, gala dinners as well as trade and consumer exhibition stand development. Fernando holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Tourism.

Felicity Switzer (nee Kent) - Operations Manager CWT Meetings & Events Meetings & Event Management

Felicity brings with her over 10 years experience in event management and has been a valuable addition to our CWT Meetings and Events for the last year.
Felicity’s onsite and operational experience ranges from 50 – 3,000 attendees on programs all over Australia and internationally for major blue chip companies, government and association bodies. Felicity’s proven track record of providing professional service; expertise; initiative, methodology and technical support enable her to provide exceptional Operations Management to the CWT M&E Team.

Prior to joining CWT, Felicity held the position of Event Operations Manager for an event and travel management company, where she oversaw and managed the operations of the events business unit. In this role she was responsible for overseeing all event programs, upholding client relationships, department financial reporting and concept design of new event pitches. Prior to this Felicity was employed within the largest PCO in Australia as a Project Manager for 8 years.

Her favourite event was an Association Conference which was an International event for 1700 attendees & their wives. The organisational tasks included: Producing marketing material pre-event, Managing online registrations for all delegates and accompanying persons, Managing the Adelaide Convention Centre Managing a several million dollar budget, Built relationships with the client for 2 years, Coordination of the social program, Welcome Reception, Australiana Night, Gala Dinner and a full days tour program for all attendees.

  Back to top

Greer Cash - Product Manager CWT Meetings & Events

Greer has been in the Business Events industry for 12 years, 9 of those years with Carlson Companies (3 with CWT M&E) working in operations and currently in a marketing & product role.

Greer was responsible for the account management, operational and logistic management on both domestic and international conferences, incentive programs, product launches, award dinners and special events. Greer has worked across many programs in the following industries including health products, ICT, software technologies, telecommunication, financial and automobile companies.

Previously in her role, she worked on a project which managed the logistics and operations of a Customer Service and Registration centre for just over 2,000 registrations. Greer has extensive event registration systems knowledge and detailed registration website development experience.

Greer graduated with a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree from Canberra University. She has travelled extensively around the world. Her experience, enthusiasm and proven organisational skills enable her to be an exceptional Manager.

Greer’s favourite event was managing an incentive group of truck sales men, who travelled to Queenstown in New Zealand. They flew by helicopter from Milford Sound to a glacier where they enjoyed champagne. Several attendees had never travelled internationally before so the joy she received in seeing their excitement in doing all these amazing things was priceless.

Back to top

Danny Schroder - Business Development Manager

Danny has been involved with the Meetings and Events industry for 9 years in various capacities and joined the CWT Meetings & Events team in 2010. Danny started out in operations at a Convention Centre followed by Hotel Sales in Wellington; then moved to Sydney where his most recent role was Business Development Manager NSW/ACT with Hotels and prestigious venues in his portfolio. He brings a positive energy to the sales process whilst building mutually beneficial relationships. Danny is passionate about helping clients create their ideal event and prides himself on adding value with all communications with clients.

Danny holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Commercial Law, in addition a Postgraduate Diploma in International Business majoring in Spanish.

Kamus Chan - Group Travel Executive

Kamus has a passion for the Business Events industry and she has successfully completed her degree of Bachelor of Management in Tourism at UTS. Kamus has worked in the Business Events industry for 6 years.

She successfully coordinated 250 flights for some Australian and New Zealand store managers. She utilised 3 major airlines due to the company’s risk management policies. She says it was "truly inspiring to see how well the event was managed and how our seamless flights coordination has contributed to the success of the event."

Milynne Garcia – Group Travel Executive

Milynne is one of the newest member in the CWT Meetings and Events team. Milynne brings with her more than 4 years of professional banking experience incorporating international trade and foreign exchange and personal banking. Educated with a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in International Business, Milynne decided it was time for a change from the banking industry and pursued her passion and goal of working in the travel industry soon after her graduation. Starting out as a Travel and Finance support consultant, through dedication and perseverance she found herself getting promoted after a year to her current role as a Group Travel Executive. Milynne is passionate about travel and has travelled to Canada, America, Philippines and New Zealand.

What inspired Milynne to join the events industry was doing volunteer work on a university project in which she helped in successfully co-ordinating and managing workshops that created opportunities for communities in need on becoming more employable.

Aaron Ha’angana - Group Travel Executive

Aaron has worked in various fields in tourism and the Business Events industry for over 10 years. Aaron has a worked on domestic and international incentive programs of up to 500 guests, and also domestic pharmaceutical conferences of over 1000 guests. Aaron has a strong passion for travel and has travelled extensively throughout Asia and North America, and also parts of Europe.

His most inspiring experience working in this industry would have to have been when he managed his first Global Air Program. It was an APAC program for a technology company, holding their sales leaders forum in Phuket. This program saw Aaron arrange travel details for people from all over the Asia Pacific region.

Back to top

Nicole Kolotas - Event Manager

After completing an Advanced Diploma in Events Management, Nicole has worked in the events industry for over 5 years.

Her experience is in special events, conference management, fundraising and large corporate agencies, has given Nicole a varied and vast knowledge of the events industry.

I think the most inspiring event experience for me was working on ‘Glamstand’ a reserved seating and entertainment section along the Mardi Gras parade route in an effort to raise money for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation. I literally had to organise the build of a grandstand for four thousand people, 3 stages, 2 catering marquees, roving entertainment and MC’s, 100 volunteers and 3 major sponsors. Not only was the experience challenging and exciting, it was immensely gratifying knowing that the money being raised was going to people suffering with HIV.

Marina Koulas - Event Manager

Marina brings with her over 5 years of industry experience in event and professional conference management. Her career has included positions with another major professional conference organisation. As an event professional she was responsible for co-ordinating and managing global events of up to 1500 people as well as event sales experience with a unique collection of 14 venues at GPO Sydney. Marina's relationship building skills, strong communication skills, negotiation style and knowledge of best practices in the events industry are all assets in finding successful solutions and planning memorable events for her clients.

Lauren Lockie - Event Manager

Lauren has more than 10 years experience in the travel industry. Completing her certificate 3 in Tourism – Meeting & Events, Lauren has been involved in many aspects of the industry. She has worked in corporate travel for 6 years and for the past 3 years Lauren has worked in Meeting & Events which involved looking after a high end sporting client and more recently managing events for a large software company.

Back to top

Carlo De Leonardis – Event Manager

Carlo has been in the Business Events and travel industry for the last 15 years. His experience includes show production, incentive travel, corporate conferences and events.

He worked for several professional conference organisers in Australia and overseas, organising events for blue chip and pharmaceutical companies, and working on a variety of events with up to 3200 attendees. He has travelled extensively in Australia, Europe, Asia and USA.

 
His Favourite event was an incentive trip to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco for 100 delegates who had hardly travelled overseas before, taking them to the top of 555 California St (old Bank Of America’s building) in San Francisco for one of their themed dinners.

Louise McKew - Product Event Executive

Louise has worked in the hospitality and Business Events industries for the last 20 years. She is responsible for quoting all new business for our clients and prides herself on her product knowledge. She enjoys learning about new destinations and venues.

Her favourite event was arranging 450 delegates and partners travelling from all around Australia and New Zealand. The event included a 5 day conference at the beautiful Pudong Shangri-la, Shanghai and optional tours in Beijing and Shanghai and post event in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Talynn has been in the Business Events industry for 14 years, co-coordinating & managing conference & incentive programs. She has strong flight knowledge, which gives her an in-sight into airline reservation system and strong fares knowledge.

Talynn's main role is the creation of registration websites, operation of each event including recommendations & execution of each program with on site event management. Her experience and insight, while working with many corporate clients both domestically and internationally on many events, has lead to her success within the industry.

Her favourite event was in New York where people were divided into groups and set off on adventures around New York City. Attendees enjoyed breakfast on the top floor of the Twin Towers which was amazing and an experience of a lifetime for some of the delegates.

Debbie Ng – Event Manager

Debbie has worked in the Business Events industry for over 6 years. She has worked as an event executive for both Professional Conference Organisers and corporate companies; Debbie has managed a vast range of events across Australia and New Zealand. She is experienced and highly skilled in managing conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners, product launches, breakfast seminars and nation-wide road shows.

Grace Ngu - Senior Group Travel Executive

Grace has more than 11 years experience in the Business Events and travel industries. Grace is responsible for managing various APAC Regional group movements and as an experienced member of the team she is a constant reference point for her team members Grace is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese & Dialect which makes her a valuable member of such a diverse team.

One of Grace’s most memorable programs was when she worked on the flight arrangements for a government department bringing people into Brisbane from all over the Pacific regions like Palau and Tonga to attend a Workshop. In her own words “It is inspirational to know that there are people who care about our environment and have taken the trouble to come together to discuss the issues that matter ”.

Back to top