Meetings magazine and ThePlanner.guru recognised and celebrated this year’s Top 40 Women in MICE at a glamorous luncheon on 17 August 2017. The women who make it onto this list are entrepreneurs, visionaries and mentors – they are a real force to be reckoned with. They know what it takes to have longevity in the challenging world of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

The Rand Club hosted the days’ festivities. It was a clever choice, considering it was once exclusively reserved for men but today is open to both sexes. It was inspiring to see an event full of stylish, powerful women taking over the space and filling the halls with their laughter, while formal portraits of famous male figures and past members looked on from the walls…

- Abie Pantshwa (Fresh Corporation)
- Alex Buckley (Into Africa)
- Alexia Swart (Barmotion)
- Amanda Cunningham (The Wedding Expo)
- Anette Burden (Casa Toscona)
- Angela Lorimer (Spier Wine Farm)
- Angelique Van der Merwe (De Hoek Country Hotel)
- Boitumelo Pooe (Scan Display)
- Bronwyn Hesketh (Speakers Inc)
- Candice Christians (Invesco)
- Cara Nortman (SSQ Exhibitions)
- Carolyn Melnick (Scatterlings Conference & Events)
- Celia du Preez (Hayward’s Grand Safari Company)
- Chantal Koen (Tourvest IME)
- Chardonnay Marchesi (Africa Travel Week)
- Cheryl Norwood-Young (Where Next Event Management)
- Clare Neall (Event Stuff/Event freelancer)
- Danielle Henn (Conference Consultancy SA)
- Edith Venter (Edith Unlimited)
- Ellen Oosthuizen (Bebe’s Events & Promotions)
- Esmaré Steinhöfel (ICCA)
- Gugulethu Buthelezi (Tourvest IME)
- Heather Beadle (Reynolds MICE)
- Janine Baltensperger (Sandton Convention Centre)
- Judy Goddard (Masiwela/Rand Club)
- Katherine Gunningham (Compex)
- Lerisha Mudaliar (Wesgro)
- Lillian Hlabangane (Tshwane Convention and Tourism Bureau)
- Lindiwe Rakharebe (Durban ICC)
- Lindy Cambouris (Cape Town International Convention Centre)
- Lisa Trenor (Conference Call)
- Lynn McLeod (Event Greening Forum)
- Melanie Pretorius (CSIR ICC)
- Merryl Fairfoot (SANCB)
- Sian Gutstadt (Decorex SA)
- Theresa Wagner (Rennies Travel ~ Limex)
- Veda Koekemoer (Electra Mining)
- Yolandi Michaels (TS&A Events and Living Masks)
- Nellie Swart (UNISA)
- Zandri Swartz (Century City Conference Centre & Hotel)

- Rising Star: Event Planner – Natasha Heiberg (Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery)
- Rising Star: Services – Nobesuthu Msimanga (Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Marriott Melrose Arch)
- Newsmaker of The Year – Carol Weaving (Reed Exhibitions & AAXO Chairperson)
- Hall of Fame – Julie-May Ellingson (Cape Town International Convention Centre)
- Hall of Fame – Nina Freysen-Pretorius (The Conference Company & ICCA Chairperson)
- Fiona Hack Inspiration Award – Jeanne Visagie (CELO | Events | Training | Consulting)
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Chris Prieto (Chris Prieto Event Management & Consultancy)