Event Dynamics

About Event Dynamics

Our specialty is working with the world’s leading associations, foundations and corporations to design and operate meetings, events and travel programs in developing countries where limited infrastructure, resources and challenging conditions are the norm. Our clients are committed to solving the world’s toughest human and environmental challenges and consider us their trusted authority and partner to help them deliver unique and exceptional transformational and educational content and travel experiences.

A major key to our success is our fanatical attention to detail and advance planning and preparation. It all starts with being an attentive listener and taking full ownership of each client engagement…while taking nothing for granted. After helping our client to select the right destination and venue, Event Dynamics conducts an extensive in-country advance scouting and reconnaissance trip. We not only nail down the details but also look for additional services (including pre and post itineraries for attendees) to deliver extra value. This ‘360°’ approach also helps our clients to meet their attendance and revenue targets.

Sandra Collier

Event Dynamics was founded in 1996 in Johannesburg South Africa by Sandra Collier and Melanie Campbell with the goal of becoming a leading international meeting planning and event management company. Over the years, Event Dynamics has built a small team with decades of collective expertise and experience, planning and executing a number of major meetings and events including:

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• Grand Challenges in Global Health (Cape Town, South Africa, 2007)
  • Held in, South Africa, this was the first meeting of its kind to be held outside of the USA; brought together 320 leading scientists from around the world.  Subsequently managed additional events for the foundation:
    • 2008 – Bangkok, Thailand 
    • 2009 – Arusha, Tanzania 
    • 2010 – Seattle, USA
    • 2011 – New Delhi, India
    • 2012 – Ottawa, Canada

University of San Francisco California

• Post Graduate Radiology Department Continuing Medical Education program (Victoria Falls Zambia, 2005)
  • Managed group of 200 medical and families (404 in the group) to attend a Radiology Continuing Medical Education (CME) program. The success of the event resulted in a repeat in June 2007 – the first time a destination has been repeated on the UCSF Post Graduate Radiology Calendar before or since.
  • Secured travel contract for a similar meeting for the same client in Sydney, Australia with travel to both Australia and New Zealand.

Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise  

• Science Committee, Host Genetics & HIV Diversity Working Group (multiple locations, dates)
  • New York-based initiative comprising a global alliance of independent organizations working towards the development of safe and effective HIV vaccines.
  • Organized over 20 meetings over a 2 year period until the volume increase justified the employment of in-house meeting planner.

11th International Congress on the Chemistry of Cement

• Five Year Planning Conference (May 2003, Durban KwaZulu Natal, South Africa)
  • Despite a significant drop in international attendance in the final stages due to global SARS virus fears, creative budget adjustments were critical to maintain quality yet also generate a profit for the organizers.

Government of South Africa

• South African Government Land Tenure Conference (November, 2001 Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa)
  • An event that presented many challenges including political protests, cultural diversity sensitivities and extremes and very tight deadlines. 

Sandra is affiliated with the following organizations:

• MPI : Meeting Professionals International – member
• APTA : Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa – board member Pacific Northwest
• PCMA:  Professional Conference Management Association - member
• Africa Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest - member
• African Wildlife Foundation – member
• Seattle Wine Society – board member

In 2003, Sandra and her husband realized a dream in moving to the United States. Now based in Seattle, Washington, Sandra enjoys travel, food and wine, and is an active participant in various non-profit organizations that focus on wildlife and conservation.