Big Fish Events Group’s Melissa Dunbar in the running for a Telstra business award
Event organiser Melissa Dunbar is in the running for this year’s Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards, 14 years after establishing Big Fish Events Group.
Melissa Dunbar says she has organised more than 800 events since establishing her Adelaide business more than 14 years ago, ranging from prestigious wine festivals in the UK and US to a dinner with the Queen.
Tomorrow, 14 years after launching the Big Fish Events Group, she will vie for this year’s Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards.
Ms Dunbar’s early career included roles with the Adelaide Rams and SACA, before her big break with the Adelaide Festival Centre, where she was tasked with organising a dinner during the 2000 visit of Queen Elizabeth II.
“I had so much experience organising events with protocol, where things are run with hierarchy and a considerable amount of information, so I was never really worried about her
coming,” she said.
“I was dealing with the CEO (of the Festival Centre) about what she should wear and what she should say. There were lots of layers to it.”
Following stints with wine companies in London and the US, Ms Dunbar returned to Australia in 2004 and launched Big Fish Events Group in Melbourne.
The group’s first job was organising rugby league’s “25 years of State of Origin” event series, helping to raise more than $260,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In 2007 Ms Dunbar opened the Adelaide head office, where Big Fish currently employs six permanent staff.
The company works on a range of projects ranging from large events such as the Tour Down Under to smaller corporate dinners and product launches.
It recently designed and executed a new T20 Masters cricket event in Dubai.
“This event required us to establish the player network, undertake recruitment and secure broadcast arrangements and stadium deals,” Ms Dunbar said.
“It was a huge success and on the back of this, we’ve since completed consultancy work for the Sri Lankan Cricket League.”
Looking forward, Ms Dunbar plans to double the size of her workforce and is investigating ways to “digitise” her business model.
“We have been working on how to digitise the business and we have got a cracker of an idea that will launch a new set of products and services later this year,” she said.
“Off the back of the most successful year ever, we have started our new three year plan set to support that growth. The plan is to double in size again adding new jobs, but still driving the business from right here in Adelaide.”
The winners of this year’s Telstra SA Business Women’s Awards will be announced on Tuesday. State winners vie for national honours on May 16.