Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Narrm, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and to Elders of all First Nations communities that visit MCEC.

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Club Melbourne Welcomes Diverse Leaders to the Prestigious Ambassador Program

By Maddi Devoy|

Mandy Nicholson, Dianne Smith and Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO are the latest inductees to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) prestigious Club Melbourne Ambassador Program.

Mandy Nicholson, a Wurundjeri-willam (Wurundjeri-baluk patriline) artist and Traditional Custodian of Melbourne and surrounds, is a revered cultural and community leader. As the founder, singer and songwriter of Djirri Djirri, the only Wurundjeri female dance group, Mandy preserves and shares her culture through community ceremonies, dance, language and cultural workshops. Currently pursuing a PhD at Monash University, she is researching ways that Aboriginal people connect to Country, off Country.

Mandy is the first Traditional Owner to join the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the cohort.

Dianne Smith is the CEO of Industry Capability Network, an independent body that maximises procurement and supply chain opportunities, providing support services for buyers and suppliers across Australia and delivering employment and socio-economic outcomes.

Having previously held Chief Executive positions at Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and Victorian Tourism Industry Council, Dianne adds her extensive industry and government connections to the Club Melbourne Ambassador Program.

Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO is the CEO and Research Director of the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre at the Melbourne Dental School. Eric’s distinguished career in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, cardiology and periodontology has led to the development of 19 patents and has earned him numerous awards for his contributions to science.

Clare Kellett, Club Melbourne Manager, is thrilled to welcome the new Ambassadors to the program.

“It is a privilege to have the expertise of Mandy, Dianne and Eric as part of our Club Melbourne program. These new Ambassadors reflect the diversity of people, ideas and innovations across our city,” she said.

“Our newest Ambassadors will contribute to the legacy of the program and Melbourne’s reputation as a thriving cultural hub, bringing thought leadership to the city and boosting the local economy,” she added.

Mandy, Dianne and Eric’s appointments follow the recent inclusion of Chef Alejandro Saravia and Emma Coath, both innovative thinkers and leaders in food and agriculture. The latest round of appointments continues Club Melbourne’s mission to diversify the program and bring together experts from a range of industries.

The Club Melbourne program includes over 80 Ambassadors who are business and community leaders in different fields including agriculture, science, medicine and technology. Club Melbourne Ambassadors work alongside the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) to secure significant conferences and events that promote Victoria as a leading knowledge destination.

Since its inception in 2005, the Club Melbourne Ambassadors, together with MCB, have secured over 160 international conferences worth over $1 billion to Victoria’s economy and brought tens of thousands of visitors to the city.