Are you a small business owner looking to build brand awareness and relationships?
Events are a powerful tool to help you achieve that, and more!
Join us at our upcoming panel event where three Moree on a Plate committee members and experienced Event Coordinator from Queensland Samantha Horton will provide valuable insights into planning and running successful events.
At this engaging breakfast event, you’ll learn:
The role of events in building brand awareness and relationships.
The secrets to planning and running successful events.
How to attract sponsors and volunteers for your event.
Insider tips to craft an on-brand events.
How to create an experience your guests will remember, talk about and share for days, weeks and months to come.
Meet the Panelists:
Samantha Horton
Samantha is an accomplished event management professional with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor of Business degree with a major in event management from Griffith University and a Diploma in Governance. Samantha started her career in an event management agency while studying and later served as an event manager at Queensland's largest event, the Ekka, for a number of years, both in-house and as a consultant.
In 2015, she founded her own event management agency, Firefly Events and Project Management, which she has been gradually winding down over the past year after being presented with a full-time offer from a client.
Currently, Samantha serves as the Executive Officer for the Queensland Environmental Law Association, a role she started as a consultant in 2020. Throughout her career, she has worked on events of all shapes and sizes, including conferences attended and opened by Princess Anne and members of the Irish Supreme Court. Her current record is an impressive 53 events in a calendar year!
Georgina Poole
A former journalist, Georgina never thought she would return to her hometown of Moree. Living and working in London, she met her future husband Tim during a holiday visit to Moree Rugby Club, and the rest is history. Upon returning to Moree, Georgie was drawn to the vibrant community and rural lifestyle and is now a passionate advocate for promoting agriculture and the local Moree community.
She manages the marketing of the Moree on a Plate festival and works for Rabobank in the national marketing team, where she supports the bank's events and branding through storytelling. Georgie is proud to be raising her three children in Moree and uses her voice to promote the benefits of rural living.
Margaret Kirkby
Margi is the matriarch of Moree on a Plate festival, which she co-founded with her business partner and friend, Jenni Birch, 20 years ago.
The Kirkby and Birch families were the founders of Gwydir Grove Olive Oils, a nationally acclaimed olive oil range produced in Moree Plains. Their aim was to showcase niche businesses from the region, including theirs, and Margi remains a tireless contributor to the festival to date.
Margi and her husband Will ran a successful cotton enterprise, raised three children, and their son and his family continue to carry forward the Kirkby legacy. Margi's network, knowledge, and first-hand insights as a producer are invaluable assets to the Moree on a Plate committee, and much of the festival's ongoing success is a testament to her dedication to the cause.
Rebecca McMillan
Rebecca is a relatively new member of the Moree on a Plate festival committee, having taken on the role of president for 2024. She has lived in several rural communities, including Warren, Hay, and Narrabri, with her husband Justin, who works in the cotton industry, and their two children.
Bec's volunteer work has given her a valuable opportunity to meet new people and become a part of each community she's lived in. As an Early Childhood Teacher, she has nurtured many local children at Goodstart Early Learning Centre and The Moree Pre-School, making her a familiar face with many families in Moree.
Bec recognizes the strong sense of community in Moree, from annual events to sports, arts, and food, that brings the townspeople together in a welcoming and inclusive way. She is excited to lead the festival into its 20th year and become even more ingrained in the Moree community.
Join us for a fun and friendly breakfast event and gain valuable insights on event management, marketing, community building, and festival production. You'll have the opportunity to ask the panelists your own questions and connect with like-minded individuals all while enjoying a delicious breakfast of bacon and egg rolls with BBQ sauce (instant coffee, tea, and juice, and tomato sauce included).
This event is a must-attend for any business owner or aspiring event coordinator looking to use events to build a brand, engage, connect and create memorable experiences.
Tickets are just $15 and include breakfast and drinks.
This event is proudly delivered with support from the Commonwealth Government through the Murray Darling Economic Development Fund and in association with Moree Plains Shire Council.
