Jenifer Dwyer Slee: A lifetime of achievement

Posted on 30 December, 2015

It’s not every day you hear your name called out to accept an award, and not just any type of award. A Lifetime Award.

But that’s what happened to Jenifer Dwyer Slee in Adelaide last month.

Jenifer is the Director of Sales and Marketing at the National Convention Centre, working for the InterContinental Hotels Group. She is one of only eight Australians, and the only Canberran, to receive a Lifetime Award from the Professional Conference Organisers Association. The award is for ‘Support, Encouragement and Mentoring to the Business Events Sector in Australia’.

The upshot of Jenifer’s efforts is that Australia is in a stronger position to be a winner in the highly competitive international conference industry. Attracting organisations to choose one destination over another for a major conference is big business and a positive boost to the local economy.

“In Canberra this is about bringing business to the nation’s capital and generating economic wealth here,” says Jenifer. “The capital is an inspirational place to host a business event. There’s no question about that. It’s a matter of working non-stop to spread the word and continually highlighting our exemplary facilities and world-class events, food and wine experiences.”

Jenifer Dwyer Slee

The NCC, which is Canberra’s only convention centre, has a high success rate in winning conferences and events once decision makers have experienced the benefits of coming to Canberra for themselves, says Jenifer. So each visit is important.

Barry Neame, President of the Professional Conference Organisers Association, presented Jenifer with the award at the association’s eight annual conference.

“Jenifer truly cares about bringing business to Australia and to Canberra and has been open and generous in sharing her knowledge in how the hotel sector operates with association members, to help with their professional development and upskilling,” says Barry. “This includes helping young people entering the industry acquire quality skills and quickly. Jenifer has always been open to being a mentor and it’s strengthened the industry as a whole.”

“With the growth in tourism in the coming years, including in Canberra, there’s never been a better time to join our industry,” says Jenifer. “Our industry is about people and collaborating. It’s a dynamic and exciting environment. It’s full of opportunity and that’s why it’s important for those of us who have been in the industry for a while to share knowledge and seize opportunities to mentor.”

Jenifer began her career more than 26 years ago in the luxury hotel market, beginning with Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa. She then joined the pre-opening team at the Park Lane Hotel Sydney and Starwood (Sheraton Noosa).

Next up was Accor where she held a range of positions over a seven-year period and established the Business Events Advisory Board. The latest move was exiting hotels for the world of convention centres, which brought her to Canberra.

Jenifer is also Deputy Chair, Destination Marketing and Visitor Experience Sub Committee, on the Tourism Industry Advisory Council. She leads a busy life—always has—and says she would never have achieved her career aspirations without the support of her husband Barry and son Fletcher. Playing the piano in her downtime helps keep Jenifer centred as does entertaining.

All images were taken by Martin Ollman