🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

Aileen is Head of Tourism & Conventions at the award-winning Glasgow Convention Bureau, responsible for the successful positioning of Glasgow as a conference destination for national and international association meetings.

As a keen supporter of the meetings industry, Aileen currently sits on the ICCA Board (International Conference & Convention Association) as Vice President and Destination Sector Co-Chair.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Alex Alles joined JMIC Joint Meetings Industry Council in August 2022. There he is responsible for the overall operations of the association as well as the project office of the Net Zero Carbon Events. NZCE is an industry-wide initiative aiming to help stakeholders of the meetings and events sectors to decarbonise.

Before joining JMIC, Alex held different positions, including marketing and finance. He was mainly dedicated to investment and trade promotion between Europe and Asia. Throughout his career, Alex has been organising numerous business events, from small meeting to large conferences.

🎤 Opening Session

Dr. Amaryllis Verhoeven is acting Director for Ecosystems II: Tourisme, Textiles, Digital Transformation of Industry, and Social Economy as well as Head of Unit for Digital Transformation of Industry in the Directorate General (DG) for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) at the European Commission (EU Commission). Before her current position, Dr. Verhoeven held different functions in the EU Commission related to Intellectual Property, Single Market and Energy files. She has also worked as an attorney with Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. Dr. Verhoeven holds a Ph.D. in law and political philosophy from the University of Leuven, where she is also lecturing on a regular basis.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

Arnaud Burlin joined Viparis as its Chief Executive Officer on June 1st, 2023. An HEC graduate and a university Master in Finance holder, he has enjoyed an international career in various management positions in the USA, France, and other European countries. Following roles as finance controller at Barfield Corp – Airbus and Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Arnaud Burlin joined the finance department at McDonald’s France before moving to operations, becoming Chief Operating Officer, and subsequently being appointed CEO McDonald’s Czech Republic and Slovakia. He joined Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in 2008, holding various roles during his tenure prior to Viparis, the most recent being Chief Operating Officer for Central Europe, also in charge of International Leasing.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

Ms Bartels has been working on financial instruments for SMEs and related policies since 2011. Prior to that, she worked in the area of chemicals legislation, where she was instrumental to setting up the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki.

Before joining the Commission in 2002, she was a consultant for Bain & Company and also a corporate client relationship manager at Deutsche Bank. She holds a Vordiplom in economics from the University of Hagen and obtained an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Kenan Flager Business School, USA.

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Balázs is responsible for the sustainability and carbon-reduction strategy of the Belgian flag-carrier in his current position, accelerating the emission-reduction efforts with available technological developments in the aviation sector.

He holds Master's degrees in Sustainable Development and Engineering Sustainable Cities with transport specialization. Before joining Brussels Airlines, he completeted a traineeship in the Commission's DG MOVE, and worked for a Brussels based NGO accelerating sustainable mobility practices in urban areas through EU innovation funds. Hungarian by origin, but he lives in Belgium since 2018. In his freetime, he loves discovering the world with a backpack, therefore his passion to make travelling, and especially flying more sustainable.

🎤 Bridging markets - EU trade policies' impact on business events

🎤 Statisitics and data: boosting representation, resilience and business

🎤 Catalysing Innovation - how meetings and exhibitions drive R&D, entrepreneurship, collaboration and growth

Barbara Weizsäcker has joined EMECA, the European Major Exhibition Centres Association, in 2012 as Secretary General and also acts as Secretary General for the European Exhibition Industry Alliance, EEIA, in Brussels (Belgium). Before, she held the position of Public Affairs Director at Messe Frankfurt (Germany).

Barbara Weizsäcker has long years of experience with exhibitions and politics having worked for the German Publishers and Booksellers Association and for the European Booksellers Federation in Brussels in beginning of her career.

Barbara Weizsäcker studied English, French and Spanish Literature and Linguistics and read History in Freiburg (Germany) and Madrid (Spain). She specialised in EU Studies in Paris (France).

🎤  Digital innovations – challenges and amplifiers

Ben Goedegebuure is the Chief Global Strategy Officer at Maritz. He is a leader who spearheads Maritz’ Global and Industry Presence efforts. Ben is responsible for supporting Maritz client operations Maritz in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and the overall coordination of the Maritz Global Meetings Network. He is also the executive head of Maritz Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. Ben is a strategic advisor to clients and provides them with innovative solutions. He is a renowned speaker and has been involved in several global business events industry associations and initiatives. Ben’s long-standing career has been in international association management, meeting planning and conference management, industry professionalization and skills development, and convention center management. His passion for the Business Events sector and global collaboration was recognized in 2021 with the PCMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Charles is a Director with Grayling Brussels in the Public Affairs department where he heads the Energy, Environment and Transport team.

Building on his experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, he develops and implements public affairs campaigns and provides strategic advice to multinational companies, trade associations and NGOs on the impact of EU policy making on their business.

In this position, over the past years, he has been actively supporting the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) with its European advocacy and communicating on its sustainability journey.

Charles began his career in several NGOs working on microfinance and sustainability projects. He later joined a French mayor's cabinet and became an Assistant to a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He subsequently moved to a large transport and logistics group where he took up a role as an Institutional and European policy Advisor. In this position, he developed strong expertise on the European Green Deal, sustainable and smart mobility, energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon pricing.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

With extensive experience spanning over a decade within the EU system, Cristina Lanca is the driving force behing implementing the Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) at the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA). This involves setting targets to reduce the organisation's carbon footprint, among others, through reductions in business travel and on-site meetings. With her background in hospitality Cristina brings a nuances understanding of the event industry to the table.

During the past year, Cristina chaired the Greening Network of the EU Agencies Network, the forum that brings together some 50 EU agencies from accross Euorpe. Under Cristina's chairing role the network adopted the "Charter on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and responsible environmental management". This will support the ambitions of the European Commission outlined in the Green Deal.

🎤 Strategic value of business events

Elisabeth Van Ingelgem is the current Director of Strategy & International Development at visit.brussels, holding the role since June 2020. Prior to this, she held different position within the organisation. She led the Convention & Association Bureau from December 2015 to June 2020, after serving as Meetings & Conventions Manager from and before that being responsible for the customer relations within the association sector. Her career has been dedicated to the promotion and positioning of the Brussels Capital as a tourism, cultural, and Business Events destination.

🎤 Digital innovations – tackling challenges, unleashing potential for meetings and exhibitions

Elisabetta works at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Interpretation, where she leads the team in charge of conference services. In her current role she is responsible for the organisation of 100+ Commission flagship events per year. She was previously head of communication and relations with the stakeholders at the Directorate-General for Translation. Since she joined the European Commission in 2001, she has been working for various departments, mainly in the area of communication, HR and project and programme management. She holds a master’s degree in German and English language and literature from the University of Trento (Italy) and a postgraduate in human resources management from Kingston University (UK).

🎤 Catalysing Innovation - how meetings and exhibitions drive R&D, entrepreneurship, collaboration and growth

Franco-Scottish, Elizabeth Macintyre trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology in England, did her PhD in Paris, and her Post-Doctoral studies at Harvard, USA. As Hematology Professor at Université Paris Cité since 1992/1997, she headed Diagnostic Hematology at Necker–Enfants Malades Hospital from 1999-2018, where she also co-directs the INSERM « Normal and Pathological Lymphoid Differentiation » Team at the INEM Research Institute. Her research interests are in lymphoid cancers, including from the Implementation Science and Health Technology Assessment angles. She was President of the European Hematology Association from 2021-23 and is current president of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe, where she set up the task force on in-vitro diagnostics. She is academic coordinator of the R&I SwafS (Science with and for Society) program within the Circle U. European University Alliance, where she also contributes to innovative and internationalized teaching strategies in the health sector.

🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

🎤 Statisitics and data: boosting representation, resilience and business

Enrica Baccini has a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University.

She is Chief Research and Development Officer at Fondazione Fiera Milano and Director of Accademia Fiera Milano, a corporate academy with a focus on exhibitions, congresses and events professions.

Moreover, she is adjunct professor in Economic Policies for Organizations in the Political Science Course at Catholic University in Milan. She is member a of the Board of Directors of Arexpo Spa, the company developing the areas that hosted Expo 2015, Fondazione Comunitaria Nord Milano, an organization that deals with philanthropy and promotion of giving and Fondazione ADI, Design Museum in Milan. She is also a member of the Strategic Committee of Milano&Partners (Milan Convention Bureau). At the beginning of her career, she was Exhibition manager of important international trade fairs.Enrica Baccini has always involved herself in the activities of the international exhibition industry associations: she was Chair of the Education Committee of UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) and she is currently coordinator of the Researchers Group of EMECA (European Major Exhibition Centres Association).

🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

After a successful completion of Hotel University in 1989, Eric started off his career in the hotel industry, soon to be followed by the meetings & events industry when he continued at RAI Amsterdam Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Destination Marketing for business events in the Netherlands at the Netherlands Convention Bureau was the start of his career within the national DMO.

Eric is now director marketing at the Meetings & Conventions department within the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions. Eric has and is holding several board positions within the (inter) national community for marketing business events for a destination.  He is a past board member of ICCA, co-founder of the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe and board member of the Dutch Pre-Finance and Guarantee Congress Fund.

Eric has supported numerous national and international associations over the past years and plays a key role in the Dutch and international Destination Marketing Sector for business events.

🎤 EU Tourism Pathway, embracing Green and Digital transition for a more resilient meetings industry

Flavie de Bueil brings over two decades of expertise to the Tourism and Meetings Industry. Her journey began with a diverse background in customer relations within the insurance and hospitality sectors, where she cultivated a deep-seated passion for international relations, people, and cultures. Graduating with a degree in Tourism Management and Culture in 2002, Flavie embarked on a career path that seamlessly blended her academic foundation with her fervent interests.

Her professional trajectory led her to European Cities Tourism which later evolved into European Cities Marketing where she commenced as an event coordinator and then assumed leadership roles, and subsequently spearheaded the transformation of the organization into the newly rebranded City Destinations Alliance (CityDNA).

As the driving force behind CityDNA, Flavie plays a pivotal role in aligning the efforts of Tourist Boards, Convention Bureaux, and Destination Management Organisations across Europe. Under her stewardship, CityDNA is dedicated to enhancing the competitiveness and performance of European cities while advocating for a sustainable and responsible visitor economy that prioritizes the well-being of people, place, and planet. In her capacity, Flavie oversees all facets of organizational management, from strategic planning and implementation to team leadership and financial management. Beyond her professional endeavors, Flavie is a dedicated advocate for community engagement and actively volunteered for Junior Chamber International (JCI), holding positions at the local, regional, and national levels.

Mother of two kids, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is a keen swimmer and hiker, hitting the mountains when she can.

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Frances van Klaveren joined ICCA as the Community Engagement Manager in January 2021, focussing on developing and engaging with the ICCA Association Community. Frances became a Certified Association Executive through the ASAE in 2020 and has 15+ years’ experience in international programme management, membership engagement and volunteer management, working for non-profit associations including the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Biochemical Society in London, UK. Frances is passionate about working with association professionals and other stakeholders within the meetings industry. She also has a keen interest in regenerative and sustainable leadership and young professional engagement, and currently works on projects including the ICCA Future Leaders Council, Net Zero Carbon Events and is a member of the Events Industry Council Sustainability and Social Impact Committee.

🎤 Catalysing Innovation - how meetings and exhibitions drive R&D, entrepreneurship, collaboration and growth

Born in Germany, Inge graduated as a telecommunications engineer from the University of Trier. After her thesis and some time working in the Project Centre for Hewlett Packard in Frankfurt, she joined the Société Européenne des Satellites, Luxembourg, where she worked for six years in Business Administration and Project Management.

Inge has been part of the management team since 2010, holding various positions such as Head of Institutional Relations, Deputy Director of Customer Service and Head of Business Analysis. Her current role is Director of the Customer Department, where she drives the customer-focused evolution incorporating data-driven customer feedback to EUIPO solutions and customer communication.

Since 2018 Inge has led the EUIPO’s SME-focused activity in the context of the office-wide SME Programme, the objective of which is to get IP information and protection to European SMEs. The SME Fund, part of that programme and launched in 2021, has to date provided financial support to around 50 000 SMEs to help them access their intellectual property rights.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

dr. István Ujhelyi was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in May 2014, where he has been the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, member in the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, substitute member in the Public Health subcommittee, and he is the inventor of the European Health Union Network. Up until his mandate in the EU Parliament, he held several significant offices in Hungarian national politics. He was a member of the Hungarian National Assembly from 2002. In 2006, he became State Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, then the President of the National Tourism Committee. In 2009-2010, he was State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, and between 2010-2014, he was Deputy Speaker in the Hungarian National Assembly. Next to his political activities, István is currently special ambassador to United Nations Tourism, and the president of the board of Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education Switzerland (BVIS), which became the official UN Tourism academic center. He is also the founder and president of Capital European Affairs, and of OBOR - Europe-China “One Belt One Road” Culture & Tourism Development. He holds a law degree from József Attila University of Szeged.

🎤 Strategic value of business events (moderator)

James is the Founder and Producer of The Iceberg presented by the Joint Meetings Industry Council.

The Iceberg curates the legacy and impact narrative of the Business & Professional Events sector as an enabler of socio-economic transformation and pathway to knowledge and creative economies.

These legacies extend beyond the value consumption (or tourism) associated with the in-person convening of business communities, with emphasis on the value creation delivered to the benefit of all sectors and government departmental agendas beyond that of the visitor economy.

🎤 Strategic value of business events

James has over 30 years’ experience in event organisation and major venue management. He began as an international conference organiser for UK-based Water Research Centre, then moved into venue management, joining Wembley Stadium Ltd as an event manager across its Stadium, Arena and Conference & Exhibition Centre venues, managing international conferences and exhibitions, concerts for artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson and also the FA Cup. After 3 years he moved into a commercial role, focusing on the exhibition and conference side of the business.

Subsequent roles included London Arena as Sales & Marketing Director then Hilton International as Director of Hilton Direct. He is now a member of the executive team of ExCeL London, responsible for the commercial strategies of its Conference and Events Division, developing a strong national and international clientele in London’s largest convention and exhibition centre. As a venue owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), he is also responsible for helping to promote the Middle East region to international event planners.

James is a passionate volunteer leader in the industry and held the prestigious role of President of ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, from 2018-2022. In addition to his role at ExCeL London, James now serves as President of JMIC, the Joint Meetings Industry Council and continues to serve ICCA as Immediate Past-President.

🎤 Statisitics and data: boosting representation, resilience and business

Dr. Jason L. Stienmetz is an Assistant Professor of Tourism Information Technology and Digitalization for the School of Tourism and Service Management, Modul University Vienna. His research interests include measuring, modeling, and managing tourism destination systems; marketing evaluation; visitor experience and value creation; “smarter” tourism management; and big data applications, such as the common European Dataspace for Tourism. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Stienmetz worked for the U.S. Travel Association and he is proud to have served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica, where he was involved in a number of community-based projects related to eco-tourism, technology education, and micro-finance. Dr. Stienmetz serves on the editorial board of the Annals of Tourism Research, Journal of Travel Research, and the Journal of Information Technology and Tourism.

🎤 Catalysing Innovation – how meetings and exhibitions drive R&D, entrepreneurshop, collaboration and growth

Jaume Puig Adamuz, electronics engineer and serial entrepreneur, endeavors to enhance the lives of his loved ones and those within the visually impaired community. Alongside his wife, Constanza Lucero (MD, PhD), and Dr. Eulalia Sanchez, an optometrist and low vision expert, they established Biel Glasses in Barcelona. The inspiration behind this venture stemmed from their son Biel, who has low vision and has encountered challenges such as falls, injuries, and disorientation since toddlerhood. Low vision, a visual impairment uncorrectable by glasses or surgery, inhibits daily tasks, being seven times more prevalent than complete blindness. Its worst consequence are the mobility issues, which cause accidents, dependency, and isolation.

🎤 Statisitics and data: boosting representation, resilience and business

Javier Ruescas is a senior analyst at the Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). He is responsible for the department's tourism and economic databases and for statistical analysis of tourism indicators, including aggregates and forecasts published in the World Tourism Barometer.

Javier is co-author of other research publications such as the UNWTO Tourism Highlights (2023), The Economic Contribution of Tourism and the Impact of Covid-19 (2021) and Understanding Domestic Tourism (2020) among others. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in economic and business studies from the European Business School (Madrid) and a Master’s degree in comparative culture from Sophia University (Tokyo).

🎤 Catalysing Innovation - how meetings and exhibitions drive R&D, entrepreneurship, collaboration and growth

Jean-David Malo became Head of Unit in charge of regional aspects in DG R&I (2006-2010), of the Unit in charge of increasing private finance and closing market gaps by expanding existing EU innovative financial instruments (see RSFF) and by developing new ones in the fields of debt (including guarantees) and equity financing (InnovFin) (2011-2013) ; and of the Unit in charge of the support to Horizon 2020 SMEs (i.e. EUROSTARS II, SME Instrument and the Fast Track to Innovation) and on Financial Instruments and State Aids (2014-2017).

Director for Open Innovation and Open Science in 2017, he designed and expanded initiatives such as the VentureEU Initiative and the RDI dimension under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

In 2019, following the European Council’s request to set up the European Innovation Council (EIC), he became Director of the EIC Task Force.

Since April 2021 he is the Director of the Agency for EIC and SMEs - EISMEA.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

Jörg Wojahn is an Adviser in the Americas Directorate of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade, in Brussels. He previously served in Berlin and in Vienna as the Representative of the European Commission to Germany and to Austria. Before, he headed the Economic & Trade Section of the European Union Delegation to the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Wojahn holds a doctoral degree in Public International Law from the University of Kiel, Germany. He studied at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and the University of Passau in Germany where he obtained his law degree.

🎤 Digital Innovations - tackling challenges, unleashing potential for meetings and exhibitions

Kai Hattendorf leads UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, as the association’s CEO / Managing Director. In this role, he is responsible for UFI activities and events globally, as well as the operation of its Paris headquarters and the offices and presences around the world. 

Serving the wider events industry, Kai sits on the Board of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), the umbrella organisation for of international and global associations serving the Business Events sector. He led JMIC as President from 2019 – 2021. 

Prior to his current role, Kai worked in the exhibition industry for numerous years in senior management positions at Messe Frankfurt’s global headquarters, focusing on transformational issues ranging from digitisation to marketing and communications.  

Kai’s work in the events industry has been recognized through various awards and recognitions around the world. Most recently he was named “Business Events Strategist of the Year” by PCMA. 

His previous career also includes leadership positions in marketing/strategic communications as well as in strategy and product development in the ITC and Media Industry for the Deutsche Telekom Group, the dpa Group (the German Press Agency), and a fintech start-up. 

A journalist by education, Kai has internationally reported for broadcasters in Germany, France, the UK, and the US, including the BBC and the Voice of America. Kai holds a Master’s degree from the American University, Washington, DC. He also studied in Dortmund and Edinburgh.

🎤 EU Tourism Pathway, embracing Green and Digital transition for a more resilient tourism

Marie Audren joined HOTREC*  as Director General in August 2020.

She has extensive experience in EU public affairs. She was Deputy Director General of spiritsEUROPE. She also worked as an adviser in the EU office of the French business federation, MEDEF.

She holds a Master’s degree in “European studies” from the Louvain-la-Neuve University (UCL) and a Master’s degree in “Public Administration” from Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Rennes).

* HOTREC is the umbrella Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Cafés in Europe. The association comprises 46 member associations from 36 European countries. The hospitality sector we represent is made of 2 million businesses. 90% of our members are micro-enterprises and 99.5% are SMEs. Our sector creates growth and jobs by employing 11 million people in Europe.

🎤 EU Tourism Pathway, embracing Green and Digital transition for a  more resilient meetings industry

Marie-Hélène Pradines is Head of Unit for tourism and textiles in the European Commission’s Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).

Before joining the European Commission, she worked as administrator in the French Ministry of economy and finance and then as deputy financial adviser at the Representation of France to the European Union

Marie-Hélène Pradines joined the European Commission in 2004, where she started working for the Directorate-General for Human Resources and

Security (DG HR). Between 2009 and 2014, she worked as member of Cabinet of Vice-President Barrot (Justice, Freedom and Security) and of Vice-President Šefčovič (Inter-institutional relations and administration).

Back in DG HR, she has been head of two units before joining DG GROW in 2020.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

Marta GOMES has worked in the meetings industry for an impressive two decades, representing the city of Paris, renowned as one of the world's premier destinations for association meetings. With a wealth of experience in venue management, Marta currently leads the sales and business development team at Viparis, Europe's largest group of convention and exhibition centers, with a portfolio encompassing 12 venues in the Paris region. In October 2022, she was elected President of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

Marta is a true citizen of Europe, embodying a diverse cultural background. Originating from Portugal, she pursued her higher education at the University of Saint Andrews in the United Kingdom. Currently residing in France, Marta's international experiences have not only enriched her understanding of various cultures but also positioned her as a bridge in the dynamic landscape of the meetings industry.

Prior to her election as President, Marta played pivotal roles at ICCA. She served as the Vice President, Board Member for the European region, and chaired the France Benelux chapter. She played a leadership role in strategic initiatives to establish the ICCA Associations Community to strengthen relationships with event organizers and launching the ICCASkills training program, designed to grow and retain talent within the industry.

Marta is committed to the advancement of the business events sector, focusing on strategic priorities aligned with ICCA’s pillars of diversity, equity and inclusion, innovation, sustainability and legacy. She strongly believes in the importance of advocating for the meetings industry and the significant impact that events contribute to economies and societies. She is a champion for creating stronger engagement and fostering collaboration among industry professionals and with the wider community, by creating platforms for dialogue, shared insights, and collective initiatives.

🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

Mike Morrissey joined the European Cancer Organisation as Chief Executive in 2019, having previously worked at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) as their Chief Operating Officer. He is also President of the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), having been elected to the position in June 2021, and became Executive Director of the European Cancer Community Foundation in March 2023.

Mike has a respected track record in leading and re-energising international not-for-profit organisations in the health and other sectors. He has served in various leadership roles and brings with him over 20 years of experience in association management. Mike is recognised for developing and managing global collaborations, as well as for supporting strategic leadership and operational implementation. 

Prior to joining the ESC in 2016, Mike was Executive Vice President & Chief Global Officer at the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) and Managing Director of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). Mike’s early career was as one of the leading tennis officials in the world when he worked for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and umpired many finals at Grand Slam and Davis Cup events. 

Mike is a British and Irish citizen and in 2019, set up his own management company ‘Morrissey Global Management’ based in Cannes, to provide his services as CEO of the European Cancer Organisation, as well as to advise and support other international organisations.

🎤 Statisitics and data: boosting representation, resilience and business

Misa Labarile, PhD is a policy officer of the European Commission working on policy development in the tourism sector (Directorate-General Internal Market, Industries, Entrepreneurship and SMEs). A social scientist by background, she has worked on EU affairs for more than ten years, not only at the European Commission but also in academia and for the Italian government, in Brussels, Milan, Boston and Rome. Misa speaks Italian, English, French and Spanish.

🎤 Digital innovations - challenges and amplifiers

Nick is the Regional Director for Europe at UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry.  He is responsible for UFI’s more than 300 members in Europe, organising the annual UFI European Conference and promoting and representing the European exhibition industry internationally. He has worked in the exhibition industry since 2006 and been with UFI since 2011.

🎤 Closing session

After four years of study at the Ecole Hôtelière (Hotel School) in Lausanne  (Switzerland), it was quite natural that his career should be oriented toward this sector. From 1998 to 2009, Patrick Bontinck built and opened hotels, but also managed and took over hotels, in particular for the Martins Hotels group. His varied experience has led him from business management to hotel development to marketing and interpersonal relations. CEO of visit.brussels since 2010, where he established the new communications strategy for the Brussels-Capital Region and the City of Brussels. His experience with visit.brussels and the hotels association has allowed him to familiarise himself with the finer points of politics and lobbying. He has been strongly involved in the development of new technologies throughout the various missions he had carried out in his career. Moreover, these developments have been recognised at an international level, with the website of visit.brussels featuring in the top 20 of the best destination websites in the world (being the only city in Europe to be listed). 

He was awarded the prize of “Bruxellois de l’année” (Brussels Resident of the Year) in 2011 and collected the “Entreprise publique de l’Année” award in 2014 on behalf of visit.brussels. 

Patrick Bontinck is also Past President of Brussels Booking Desk and founder of the Brussels Hotels Association, Director of the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and President of its Tourism Commission as well as Board Member of CityDNA (City Destinations Alliance).

🎤 EU policies’ practical challenges for business events sector – An open forum for questions

As Programme Manager - Advocacy & Alliances with UFI - the global association of the exhibition industry, Peirui works with UFI members and partners to drive advocacy efforts for the global exhibitions industry and industry-wide initiatives.

A Singaporean based in Frankfurt, Peirui has over 15 years of global experience working with the Singapore Tourism Board and Business Events Sydney with expertise in government engagement, strategy development and relationship management.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Hospitality Business) from Michigan State University.

🎤 Strategic value of business events

🎤 Closing session 

MSc. Petra Stušek leads Ljubljana Tourism and presides over the City Destinations Alliance, dedicated to enhancing European city tourism. With extensive experience, she previously managed communications at Ljubljana Tourism, joining in 2002. Stušek's tenure has seen remarkable achievements, including Ljubljana's recognition as the most sustainable destination globally in 2015. Subsequent awards include the ETIS and Accessible Tourism Joint Award in 2016 and the WTM Responsible Tourism Award in 2017. Her leadership has propelled Ljubljana to win prestigious titles such as the European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2019 and 2020, and European Best Green Capital for 2022. Stušek's influence extends beyond Ljubljana; she serves on the board of the Slovenian Convention Bureau and champions governmental support for the Slovenian meetings industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, she is an active member of the European Tourism Association – ETOA’s Advisory Council since 2023. Stušek's academic credentials include a Master's degree in business administration and marketing from the School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana.

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Pierpaolo Settembri is an EU official since 2007, currently working as Head of Unit for Coordination and Planning in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE). Previously, he worked as Assistant to the Director-General in DG MOVE and as a coordinator for G7/G20 matters and external policies in the Secretariat-General. Prior to the Commission, he worked in the General Secretariat of the Council, dealing with development cooperation and international trade. He has also been a Fulbright Scholar and Global Emile Noël Fellow at New York University, a researcher at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht, a research fellow at LUISS "Guido Carli" in Rome and a teaching assistant at the College of Europe in Bruges. Political scientist by training (LUISS Guido Carli", 2001), he holds a Master in European Politics from the College of Europe (2002) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Florence and Sciences Po - Paris (2006).

He currently teaches graduate courses on EU policymaking at the College of Europe in Bruges, Sciences Po - Paris and the European College of Parma. His publications on various EU-related topics include several articles in international journals, a co-authored book on learning how EU negotiations work through simulation games (2012), a monograph on the farm lobby in Europe (2008) and a co-edited volume on the impact of enlargement on the EU institutions (2008). He is fluent in Italian, English, French and Spanish.

🎤 Strategic value of business events

With a career spanning decades, Roland Bleinroth has been at the helm of prestigious organizations, including as President & CEO of Landesmesse Stuttgart GmbH since 2006. Prior to this, he served as President & CEO of Messe Frankfurt Inc. (Atlanta/USA) from 1996 to 2005, and held pivotal roles such as Head of Marketing Projects and Sales Coordination at AEG Daimler Benz Industry from 1989 to 1995. His journey began as a Program Manager and Translator at INTERNATIONES, contributing to the Visitor Service of the Federal German Government from 1984 to 1989.

Beyond his professional endeavors, he actively engages in voluntary work. He has been a Member of the Board at the Italian Chamber of Commerce Munich since 2012 and became a Full Member of the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in 2017. In 2018, he took on the role of Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Stuttgart Region Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). He holds positions on the boards of the European Major Exhibition Centres Association (EMECA) and the German Trade Fair Association (AUMA). Additionally, he serves as the Honorary Consul of Mongolia for Baden Württemberg.

🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

With over two decades of extensive experience in the meetings, association, and leisure industry, Senthil Gopinath serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), a prominent global meetings industry association headquartered in the Netherlands.

Senthil's career journey includes diverse roles, showcasing his expertise and leadership in the field. He has held pivotal positions such as CEO of the Convention Bureau of Sri Lanka and Vice President of Kuoni. In 2006, he relocated to Dubai and joined Congress Solutions International, the Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) arm of the Emirates Group. During his tenure, he played a vital role in business development, sales, and operations functions for some of the largest international meetings hosted in the UAE and the Region.

A dynamic and passionate strategist, Senthil is known for his creativity and adaptability to the ever-changing industry landscape. His commitment to professionalism is evident in his focus on achieving organizational objectives and financial goals.

Senthil holds a European Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration from the UK. Holding a Ph.D., his academic journey reflects his dedication to continuous learning and growth.

As the CEO of ICCA, Senthil leads the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry. ICCA comprises over 1,150 member companies and organizations in more than 100 countries worldwide. Senthil's in-depth knowledge of global association and business tourism segment development has been honed over the course of his career.

Recognized for his contributions, Senthil was awarded the Global Business Events Strategist of the Year by PCMA - USA. Under his leadership, ICCA continues to specialize in the international association meetings sector, offering unparalleled data, communication channels, and business development opportunities to its members.

🎤 Bridging markets – EU trade policies impact on business events 

Silvia has a long year experience and expertise in the German trade fair industry. At AUMA she is responsible for advocacy work and public affairs. In close exchange with trade fair organizers she is active in the fields of legislation, international trade and sustainability. One focus of her work is to advocate the entry of international trade fair visitors and exhibitors to ensure the internationality of world leading trade fairs in Germany.

She began her professional career in an international firm in the nonwoven industry leading her to Vancouver and Quebec. Silvia holds a law degree from the university of Cologne and worked in a law firm in Melbourne during her legal clerkship.

🎤 Talent, training and DEI strategies for the meetings industry

Sónia has been working at DG Employment Social Affairs & Inclusion since 2011, first with the European Social Fund’s coordination and following that with the team setting up the European Labour Authority. Since 2021 she has worked in the Skills Agenda unit as a policy officer with the Pact for Skills.

From 2000 to 2011 Sonia worked with international development and cooperation in the European Commission’s EuropeAid office focusing on the Western Balkans & Central Asia regions, and in the UN/OSCE field office in Pristina.

Sónia is from Portugal and holds an International Relations bachelor’s degree and a MA in European Politics & Administration from the College of Europe.

🎤 Digital Innovations – tackling challenges, unleashing potential for meetings and exhibitions

Sònia Serracarbassa heads the Catalunya Convention Bureau, at the Catalan Tourism Board. She has been responsible for the creation of the Catalunya Convention Bureau, a programme that has been running for 14 years. Today focused in a reoriented strategy, innovation and with positive impact, creating cross sectors value with other industries, and the European project BEFuture to shape the business events of the future.

With over 22 years of experience in the public and private tourism sector, Sònia has worked in different sub-sectors of the industry. Her professional experience includes strategic plans, new projects and business development, destination marketing, market research, product creation, quality plans, tourism policy and European projects. In addition to her current position at the Catalunya Convention Bureau, she stands out in her professional career for her consulting work, in multinationals such as Deloitte, and other International firms. Throughout her 8 years of consultancy, she specialised in projects for the tourism sector, both public and private, and for public administrations.

At an academic level, she has completed courses and Masters in business management, tourism, strategic and digital Marketing, and strategic innovation.

In her role as director of the Catalunya Convention Bureau, besides defining the meeting industry strategy for Catalonia and its management, she actively participates in conferences, events and different international business events; she is a member of the Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaus in Europe; and she teaches at universities In Barcelona on the meeting industry and its planning in destinations.

🎤 Accelerating sustainable mobility initiatives in the meetings industry

Sylvain Haon is Sr Director Strategy & Transformation at UITP, the International Association for Public Transport, where he was previously and since September 2014 Director of Knowledge and Membership Services. Sylvain started his career at the Trade Office of the French Embassy in Rome. He went on to be the head of the Brussels office of SNCF directorate for European affairs in 2000. In 2003, he joined the Polis network of cities and regions. He became Secretary General of Polis in 2006 and remained in this position until he joined UITP.

🎤 Navigating green policies, the meetings industry path to a sustainable future

Sven joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are facing.

Before joining AIPC, Sven worked as managing director at ESTRO (European Society for Radiation Oncology). He successfully led the branding, marketing and digital transformation of ESTRO – a massive project which was finalized in April 2020. It included a full re-branding, implementation of a new CMS and CRM system, the creation and implementation of a marketing strategy and a complete re-vamp of the annual congress.

Prior to joining ESTRO, Sven worked for 20 years in the financials services world. The first 10 years of his career he worked as an international programme manager at ING, followed by 10 years at SWIFT – the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications.

At SWIFT, Sven oversaw Sibos – SWIFT’ s flagship event which brings together over 8,000 decision takers form over 150 countries for 4 days to discuss the common challenges the financial community faces and the common solutions to be put in place.

Sven holds a degree in anthropology. He works and lives in Belgium, has two children and loves to read.

🎤 Tourism Pathway, embracing green and digital transition for a more resilient meetings industry

Tim leads the European Tourism Association’s public policy activity, multinational to local. He is responsible for its climate action plan and coordinates its working groups on destinations and topical issues. He is Co-Chair of European Tourism Manifesto and a member of the Commission’s expert group ‘Together for EU Tourism – T4T’. ETOA’s membership includes 100 European DMOs and over 20 NTOs, international operators bringing clients from markets worldwide, and the supply chain.

🎤 Bridging markets - EU trade policies' impact on business events

Tomislav joined the Visa Policy unit at DG HOME in 2017, and is currently Team Leader in charge of visa reciprocity and digitalisation. Tomislav has worked on the development and application of EU visa policy (including as expert in Schengen evaluations), and has been closely involved in the process of drafting and negotiating EU visa policy legislation.

Tomislav has been working for EU institutions since 2014, and holds an M.A. from University of Zagreb.

🎤 EU policies' practical challenges for the business events actors: open forum for questions

Uta Goretzky has been the Managing Director of IFES International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services since 2015. The trained business economist (Diplom Kauffrau) discovered her passion for the event industry during her studies. She worked for a long time at the German trade fair and event industry association FAMAB (now FWD), most recently as deputy managing director, and in 2002 she founded her own communications consultancy. Travel is her source of inspiration, the sea her refuge and sunlight her personal booster. She is married and lives in Frankfurt.