The final Boardroom issue of 2025 closes the year with a clear message: association leadership has entered a new era, one defined by adaptability, collaboration, and purpose. As the lines between global challenges and local realities blur, leading an association today means embracing uncertainty as part of the craft. Across these pages, contributors from ESAE, IAPCO, AIPC, and ICCA explore how AI, sustainability, and evolving member expectations are reshaping management models and redefining what leadership looks like.
From rethinking event strategies in a post-virtual world to integrating ESG and data-driven innovation into daily operations, this issue highlights associations that lead with intention, balancing clarity with curiosity, technology with empathy, and purpose with pragmatism. In the words of our editorial letter, progress is rarely linear; but in times of change, staying grounded may be the most powerful form of leadership there is.
This edition also takes readers on a global tour of destinations redefining what it means to host impactful meetings. From Basel’s record-breaking year and Maastricht’s new regional strategy in Limburg to Madrid’s sustainability-first approach and Brisbane’s role in advancing the energy transition, each story shows how cities are aligning economic priorities with legacy and learning. Together, they reveal how place-making and purpose are increasingly intertwined.
Download you copy now. Also includes a brand-new destination on Dubai, Designed For What’s Next.