Mike Cannon is back in the game

After stepping down from his role as managing director of the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) last year, industry stalwart Mike Cannon is back in the game, having launched bespoke consultancy firm, MCBE.

Following five successful years leading the bureau, Cannon’s new venture will offer marketing, branding and business development training to organisations targeting business events in the Asia Pacific region.

“Since I stepped down from my role at SCB I’ve been regularly approached about supporting a number of small and medium size companies in the industry who would benefit from someone with decades of experience,” Cannon said.

“Suffice to say, I’ve seen it all over the last four-and-a-bit decades; as our industry has powered on in good times and in bad. This is now a wonderful time to be leading a specialised consultancy, often in association with Ross Robinson and Patty Buehler of Love That Destination, based in Canada, and David Hall of David Hall Consultancy based in Australia.”

The collective wisdom of these business event specialists is set to give MCBE a leading edge, and Cannon says its economical base in Sarawak will allow the business to offer clients cost-effective solutions.   

Expanding on the association, David Hall, former CEO of the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux, said: “I have no hesitation, whatsoever, in commending the services of Mike who I regard as a doyen of the business events industry with a rare-to-be-found legacy of experience especially in the highly competitive Destination Marketing sector.”

Prior to joining SCB, Cannon ran a successful destination management company, Australian Industry and Farming Tours for more than 20 years. The business began in Sydney and later expanded into Hong Kong. He's also worked with Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) in Papua New Guinea, Qantas, and Dalgety Travel as state manager for Victoria in Australia.