Association Focus is set to take place on Monday 30 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt, held 31 May – 2 June. The exclusive day of networking and learning for association professionals at all levels represents a valuable opportunity for the community to get together.
Carola van der Hoeff, President of AC Forum and COO & Congress Director of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), explains: “The association representatives I’ve spoken with recently have all shared the same sentiment – they’re looking forward to returning to IMEX in Frankfurt and meeting face to face again. There are many reasons behind this: they’re looking forward to meeting their global suppliers and partners – venues and CVBs in particular – doing business and reinforcing those all-important partnerships. Alongside this, the associations are also excited about the sheer joy of seeing each other – colleagues, members, partners – face to face again after a long hiatus. By bringing everyone together, the show represents an opportunity to build relationships across multiple areas of the industry, ultimately making our sector stronger in the process.”
Count Me In’s Shane Feldman – community-led keynote
Association Focus is divided into two streams, designed for association leaders and association events professionals. Each session is expertly curated and designed to get to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of each topic, with experts using real life examples and learnings with an emphasis on open peer to peer discussions.
The programme begins with a keynote Leadership Passport: Helping Association Leaders Build a Thriving Community. Shane Feldman, founder of the largest youth-led organisation in the world, Count Me In, will share the results of his research into community leadership and human behaviour in over 25 countries.
Diversity, equity & inclusion for associations
With diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) high on many business agendas, it’s essential for associations to attract and retain diverse talent, and to craft content that resonates across demographics. The definition of DEI, however, can differ around the world and associations may need to consider different strategies for incorporating DEI practices across their organisations, from Boards, to staff, members, events and beyond. Michelle Mason, President & CEO of ASAE, moderates the panel session – Diversity, equity & inclusion for associations – with Tracy Bury, Deputy CEO of World Physiotherapy; Mike Morrissey, Chief Executive of the European Cancer Organisation; and Senthil Gopinath CEO of ICCA.
Education partners ASAE, AMCI and ICCA, along with supporting partners ESAE and AC Forum, have all collaborated with IMEX to create Association Focus. Sponsored by Tel Aviv and Global Association Hubs, Association Focus takes place Monday 30 May at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center and ends with an Association Social where attendees can catch up with industry friends and celebrate the start of IMEX in Frankfurt.
IMEX in Frankfurt takes place 31 May – 2 June 2022 – the business events community can register here. Registration is free.