That is a wrap! 55 editions of the Sydney International Boat Show, delivered! 42,000 people through the gates.
Many significant and impressive displays, both in the halls and on the water, notwithstanding our presence on the boardwalks and waterfront with the Discover Sail and Paddle hub, and our strong safe boating messages with industry partners, Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving and the Melanoma Institute, and government partner Transport for NSW.
At the Show, we had several points of focus;
- Retail, and providing a platform for industry to display some amazing product]
- Industry conference, with multiple workshops, briefings, meetings and forums with senior government representatives from across the nation that included significant sessions hosted by BIA on Diversity, Sustainability and Standards
- Safety, the safe boating message was collaborated well, with Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving, Melanoma Institute and Transport for NSW, all having presence in the halls, on the water and some key public facing activations
- Marine Jobs and Marine Careers, showcasing our industry to 700 School Students from across Sydney, offering a host of career opportunities spanning boatbuilding to marine mechanics, marinas to superyachts and much more
- Awards, our Sustainability, Apprentice and Maritime TAFE NSW Awards, were all well applied for, with some fantastic and very worthy applications, and congratulations to all the winners especially the Sustainability Award to Alan Steber of Steber International and the BIA Apprentice of the Year Award to Michaela Douglas of Douglas Marine Pty Ltd in Pittwater.
These forums and events were attended by more than 1,000 industry and government representatives throughout the Thursday and Friday. It was very well received and all of these events within the Show are part of the growth phase for the BIA. We have seen the Jobs and Skills forum double in participation on last year, same too for the NSW Maritime TAFE Awards as hosted by BIA at the Fishing Stage. Thank you, TAFE NSW, for your continued support in hosting this event, it has been run for over 30 years at the Show. All these forums will continue to grow, as we roll out the ‘next stages’ as our work does not stop there! Thank you indeed to the ICC providing such a great space for our opening function.
I would like to thank Transport Minister Jo Haylen for formally opening the Show and choosing the BIA event to announce $44 million in funding being available for maritime infrastructure. Thanks to ICOMIA CEO Joe Lynch for speaking at our opening function and presenting at the Sustainability and Vessel Standards Forum. Also thank you to Diversity Council of Australia CEO Lisa Annese as our keynote speaker at the Diversity Forum. All very well spoken and well received by attendees.
Our outdoor/ foreshore footprint for the Discover Sail and Paddle Hub was well attended by the visiting public. As facilitated by Nicole Douglass and Team (thanks indeed Nicole for another growth year), with our new BIA Sustainability Ambassador Lisa Blair taking the lead on majority of stage presentations, along with dozens of key women in our Industry, all with amazing stories and experiences on the water. We were excited to see the evolution of this BIA initiative, the Discover Sail and Paddle Hub, which presents a fantastic pathway for engaging with people and getting them interested in recreational boating.
Thank you to all exhibitors for your ongoing support towards our Show and showcasing the fabulous products, and services that the industry has to offer.
We will be going out with Exhibitor surveys in the coming days, please engage with these surveys, responses are critical for the ongoing management and success of the Show, and for our promotion of recreational boating.
The forthcoming Shows and Expos to support are
- Perth Club Marine Boat Show, 6 to 8 September, at the Perth Convention Centre
- Marine Jobs proudly present the 2024 Gold Coast Marine Jobs & Careers Expo, set to sail on Saturday 7 September 2024, from 9 am to 2 pm at the Coomera Marine Precinct
- Melbourne Boat Show, 17 to 20 October, Docklands in Melbourne
- SA Boat Show, 25 to 27 October, Adelaide Showground
Be safe on the water!
Andrew Scott
