A total of 11 winners were recognised for their achievements at the event held at etc.venues 155 Bishopsgate, which had been transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the night.
Winners of the 2015 awards included Centaur Media, Incisive, Haymarket, and the International Wine and Spirit Group, with the Investment Europe team from Open Door Media Publishing taking the coveted award for Team of the Year.
In the individual categories, Melissa Hurley from Reed Business Information was named Outstanding New Talent, while Natalie Richards from Newsquest Specialist Media took the title of Events Professional of the Year.
Barry McIlheney, CEO of the PPA, said: “Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists at this year’s PPA Connect Awards. Whether conferences, awards, exhibitions or smaller-scale forums, live events give magazine and business media brands a tangible, real-world connection with their audiences that is vital as part of a multi-platform offering. It is a space that will only grow in importance for the PPA’s membership in years to come, and we are delighted to celebrate those at the top of the events game through our PPA Connect Awards.”
Caroline Cronin, PPA Business Media Manager, said: “PPA Connect was established in 2013 to support and celebrate the events specialists within PPA membership and it is really building momentum through both the conference, which we held earlier in the year, and last night’s fantastic awards ceremony. We look forward to welcoming more events professionals into the PPA Connect fold for what will be another very exciting year in 2016."
Winners of the PPA Connect Awards 2015:
OUTSTANDING NEW TALENT
Winner: Melissa Hurley, Reed Business Information
Highly Commended: Christopher Williams, EMAP
LAUNCH OF THE YEAR
Manufacturing & Engineering North East, Findlay Media
EVENTS INDUSTRY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
sli.do
MEMBERSHIP EVENT OF THE YEAR
Exhibitor Masterclass, AEO
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
Eventopedia
EVENTS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Natalie Richards, Newsquest Specialist Media
CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR (FEWER THAN 300 DELEGATES)
Blade Inspection, Damage and Repair Forum, Haymarket Media
CONFERENCE OF THE YEAR (300+ DELEGATES)
Winner: OpRisk North America, Incisive
Highly Commended: Festival of Marketing, Centaur Media
EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Winner: The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, Centaur Media
Highly Commended: Manufacturing & Engineering North East, Findlay Media
AWARDS EVENT OF THE YEAR
International Wine & Spirit Competition Annual Awards Banquet, The IWSC Group
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Winner: Investment Europe, Open Door Media Publishing
Highly Commended: Scottish Dental Show, Connect Communications