Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) has led the way in the employment of women in key leadership roles in the traditionally male dominated AV and technology sectors. As we head into International Women’s Day we celebrate their invaluable contribution to the Centre’s success.

The Centre has championed women in the industry in key positions across all AV areas including audio, lighting, vision and project management over many years.

Senior AV Project Manager, Rebecca Bell is the first woman at BCEC to hold that position and has been in the role now for five years. An 18 year veteran of BCEC, Rebecca was instrumental in the successful project management and delivery of the AV component of the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit – the largest gathering of world leaders in Australia’s history.

Bec Smith, the Centre’s Audio Production Manager leads a team of audio professionals and is a passionate and long-time advocate for women in technology. Bec just happens to be a talented musician and composer as well as being a mentor to aspiring Tech Women in the field, fostering new talent whenever the opportunity arises.

Peta Lakeman, AV Projects Assistant and Amanda Nissen AV Production Assistant, are very talented up and coming professionals who have brought a great deal of enthusiasm and a new dynamic to the Centre’s AV family. A further 15 professional women are in casual employment across all disciplines of AV at BCEC.

Michael Duckworth, Director of BCEC’s newly formed Technology and Innovation Department, which encompasses the areas of Audio Visual, Information Technology and Event Management Systems, believes that after generations of male dominance in the AV industry, the sector is undergoing cultural change with positive and encouraging results.

“Our female workforce is ever increasing. Each of our specialities – Vision, Audio, Rigging and Lighting has a number of professional women driving change and promoting diversity.

It is important that our team empowers women choosing a career in the AV industry.”

Both Rebecca and Bec hope to see many more women in management positions right across the AV industry in the next five years. They are confident that BCEC will continue to lead by example and enthusiastically and actively encourage more women to become part of the BCEC team.