CEO Update: March 2025
17 Mar 2025 / Melbourne Royal News
In a major win for Melbourne Royal, the largest incentive market event ever to come to Australia is being held at Melbourne Showgrounds next month to celebrate Amway China's 30th anniversary.
The ‘Festival of Amway’ is a large-scale collaboration between Melbourne Royal, Melbourne Convention Bureau, and the Victorian State Government that will bring up to 16,000 delegates from China during April and Melbourne Showgrounds is the venue of choice for conference sessions and gala dinner.
Securing this significant event was confirmed following a successful site visit by Amway representatives to Melbourne Showgrounds during the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show. The timing of the site inspection enabled us to showcase the venue, our highly experienced and talented Melbourne Royal team along with our quality service providers such as Dean & McPherson catering and Encore Technology.
We look forward to warmly welcoming the Amway China team and delegates to Melbourne Showgrounds in April for the Festival of Amway and trust that it will be a resounding success for all involved.
Time to judge the world’s best Beer & Spirits
Anticipation is building in preparation for judging the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards, the largest beer competition in the world judging both draught and packaged beer.
The introduction this year of new Australian independent champion awards, alongside expanded classes, underscores Melbourne Royal’s commitment to these awards to evolve and grow in step with the beer and brewing industry to ensure they remain highly valued by brewers around the world.
A diverse expert judging panel of over 75 global brewing professionals, guided by three head judges, will bring unique skills, industry insights and sensory strengths to the judging process, held from 6-9 May at Melbourne Showgrounds.
Thank you to all the breweries that entered and trust they enjoy great benefits from having their product benchmarked against the best in the world.
The culmination of all the hard work will be celebrated at the Trophy Presentation Dinner, held in the Victoria Pavilion on Thursday 15 May. This prestigious event is expected to be a sell out, so if you love beer I encourage you to be quick to secure tickets.
The Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards will open for entries on 8 April, marking a historic moment as we welcome entries from international distillers for the first time.
This prestigious competition invites distillers from around the world to present their best creations, offering unparalleled exposure and recognition.
The event has seen incredible progress and we're aiming for 1,000 entries this year - a stunning leap from the 115 entries received in our inaugural year.
New appointments to Committees and Industry Advisory Groups
We are delighted to welcome a number of new representatives onto our Melbourne Royal Competition Committees and Industry Advisory groups. Each of the new appointments are highly experienced in the field of expertise and we are thrilled that they will be involved to provide further industry insights and help us advance the competitions and awards.
- Kim Chalmers - Wine Awards Committee
- Christina Kaigg-Hoxley - Wine Awards Committee
- Holly Klintworth - Australian International Spirits Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Cara Devine - Australian International Spirits Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Evelyn Liong - Australian International Spirits Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Glenn Moore – All Breeds Dogs Competition Committee
- Chris Swersey - Australian International Beer Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Johann Bach - Australian Food Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Thomas Beuke - Australian Food Awards Industry Advisory Group
- Mark Livermore - Australian Food Awards Industry Advisory Group
Popular events ready to roll into Melbourne Showgrounds
Prior to holding the Festival of Amway during April, Supanova Comic Con & Gaming is being held at Melbourne Showgrounds from 29 - 30 March. Since 2000, Supanova has been the heart of Australian pop culture fandom, which attracts a huge following to see and experience a massive exhibition of comics, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and the joy of cosplay.
From pop culture to motor vehicles! We are also looking forward to Meguiar's MotorEx being held at Melbourne Showgrounds on 3-4 May. The 'MotorEx Worlds' concept is truly exciting, offering a unique journey through the diverse world of car culture and we’re looking forward to seeing our venue transformed by the energy and creativity of Australia's car scene.
Talent search for 2025 Show Reps
As we countdown to the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show, to be held from Thursday 25 September to Sunday 5 October, we have begun the search for two lucky Victorian kids to become Show Reps who will immerse themselves in an exciting program of much-loved favourites, all new experiences and innovative content.
From being one of the first to preview the 2025 showbags and thrilling rides to TV appearances and photoshoots with cute baby animals, the role offers a unique money can't buy behind-the-scenes experience at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show.
The campaign attracted a variety of entries, with 10 shortlisted individuals now preparing for a media-filled casting day in April, where they compete for the coveted Show Rep title.
There’s nothing like the thrill of winning a Blue Ribbon
Planning for the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show is well advanced. There is nothing like the thrill and excitement of winning a coveted Melbourne Royal blue ribbon and this year we are planning for the return of the Melbourne Royal Poultry Competition.
The Woodchop Championships will be held over the first four days of the Melbourne Royal Show from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 September and entries open on 25 March.
Entries for Beef Cattle, Sheep, Alpacas, Art, Craft and Cookery, Dogs, and Poultry will open progressively over the coming months and in the meantime, further information is available on the Competitions & Awards page via our website.
For Members
Our membership year ends 31 March and I sincerely thank all Melbourne Royal members for their support and involvement. I am pleased to confirm that Melbourne Royal members enjoy reciprocal privileges at the 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show being held from 11-22 April 2025. I thank the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW for extending reciprocal privileges to Melbourne Royal members again this year and I wish the Society well for the upcoming 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show.