So how do you pronounce Desliens and where did the name come from?

One thing at a time! Desliens is a French word, a name actually and, putting on your best French accent, it rhymes with ‘aliens’, not that we are strange at all.

Now to the where the name comes from.

Let us indulge you in a little history. The first known European discovery of Australia was on the west coast, but not of Western Australia as most people think.

Rather it was on the west coast of Cape York, where a little Dutch ship, the Duyfken (Little Dove), touched base in 1606, turned around and went back to where it had come from, which was Batavia (now Jakarta) in the then Dutch East Indies.

But how do you explain the map below?

This is a map by Nicholas Desliens which was one of a number produced by Desliens and his mates at the Dieppe School of Mapping which were produced between about 1530 and 1570.

Desliens best known map is dated 1567 (above) was about 40 years ahead of the Duyfken’s travels. Have a look at the top left hand corner, which is labelled “Java la Grande” and to our untutored eyes it looks very like the Top End of Down Under. That is, the Northern Territory, where Desliens Conference and Event Management is based.

Like Nicholas Desliens, we always like to be ahead of events!

Since 1993 Desliens Conference and Events Management (formerly Desliens Business Consultants) has organized over 80 conferences, events, exhibitions, seminars and other functions. We have worked with local, national and international clients. Our delegates have ranged from Indigenous community members, politicians, businessmen and employees through to even the Duke of Edinburgh.

So how did we begin?

In 1993 an existing consulting client suggested we bid for the annual national conference his association, the Chartered Institute of Transport, was hosting in Darwin the following year. At the time, Treasure Gordon, Director of Desliens, was working in Government but had significant experience arranging events and conferences. The decision was made to accept the suggestion, and put forward a tender to host the event – and the submission was successful.

At the opening meeting with the steering committee the chairman formally presented us with their ‘Conference Plan’. It was a blank sheet of paper.

Fast forward to late 1994, when we received the following feedback after the event:

‘When our Council agreed to the Northern Territory’s request to conduct the conference in Darwin there was some concern expressed regarding professionalism available in what many see as a remote area…I am pleased to advise that, with smooth conduct and most dedicated staffing and administrative arrangements provided, any fears were proven groundless’.