Student Dominique Dashwood-Evans has been announced as the winner of the Vanessa Cotton Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship will provide Dashwood-Evans - a final year hospitality student at the School of Tourism, Bournemouth University - with sponsored registration, accommodation and travel to the European Meetings & Events Conference (EMEC) in Budapest next month.

The scholarship honours UK event industry veteran Vanessa Cotton, who passed away in June 2010 and was an enthusiastic leader of the UK and international meetings industry.

MPI UK & Ireland chapter hosted a cocktail reception at EIBTM to announce the winner. Chapter president Samme Allen said: “We are extremely honoured to be able to announce the winner of the Vanessa Cotton Memorial scholarship; thank you to ExCeL London and Reed Travel Exhibitions for their support to help make this happen.

“Dominique’s application was extremely well thought out, she clearly has a passion for our industry based on the work she has done to date - mostly on a voluntary basis - and in the judges' opinion she demonstrated a strong understanding of the value and significance of this award.”

Dashwood-Evans said: “Winning the scholarship was a huge surprise, attending the conference will provide me with the opportunity to develop a more professional presentation building my confidence for future occasions.”

Pictured: Dominique Dashwood-Evans