If team meetings and workshops are getting a bit same-same now that virtual work arrangements are well and truly the norm, why not take your group on a virtual travel experience for your next team catch-up?

That’s exactly what Influential Women in Events & Marketing did last month, for a group of event planner members across the country.

In collaboration with Northern Territory Business Events (NTBE), the group offered two online workshops giving members the opportunity to virtually ‘travel’ to the Territory to discover some of its iconic experiences.

A virtual dot-painting workshop was held in conjunction with Maruku Arts, an Uluru-based not-for-profit art and craft organisation that is owned and operated by the Anangu people from the southeast and western regions of Central Australia.

The workshop saw an Indigenous Australian artist take the group through a painting workshop, while sharing stories and meanings behind Indigenous art techniques and symbols.

“Learning some of the local language and the meaning of the symbols from artist, Valerie Brumby and Sarah from Maruku was a privilege, and being able to sit quietly engrossed in our own artwork was a surprisingly relaxing and rewarding experience,” said Anine Leakey from A9 Event Design, after taking part in the experience.

Another group of members enjoyed a virtual yoga session, staged by Voyages Indigenous Tourism at Uluru.

Participants were treated to a pre-recorded 20-minute yoga session, with a stunning view of Uluru as the backdrop.

Shelley Ryan, co-founder of Influential Women in Events & Marketing, said the workshops gave members a chance to reconnect, while experiencing first-hand what’s on offer for groups in the NT.

“During some of the toughest months of COVID, we set about creating a series of virtual events with a difference for our Influential Women in Events and Marketing members,” she said.

“Overwhelmingly, our members still want connection to their peers – the very reason we started IWEM nearly five years ago.”