ICCA Association
Expert Seminar (AES)
20-22 May 2023 | Frankfurt, Germany
Meet our Speakers
Gary Grimmer
GainingEdge is a global consulting firm focused on associations, destinations, convention bureaus, convention centres, destination sales representation and market research.
Gary has consulted on over 100 projects in all parts of the world and was one of the lead consultants on Destination Next, a global study for Destinations International (DI) which defined the future of destination marketing. He is a former Chairman of the Board of DI and was one of the first six inductees into the inaugural DI Hall of Fame in 2014. He also received the Asia Pacific IMEX Academy Award in 2007.
Genevieve Leclerc
Geneviève has over 25 years of experience in business events management and consultancy for destinations and event organisers. Geneviève works as a facilitator, speaker, trainer and consultant with the business tourism industry worldwide, and she uses human-centred design and social impact theory to accompany organizations through change and innovation processes.
Geneviève leverages her in-depth knowledge of the needs, values, and operation practices of actors in the business events sectors and the community in order to support destination marketing and management organisations who are looking to broaden their vision of what their role is. She has founded her current organisation, #MEET4IMPACT, with the vision of transforming the business tourism industry by generating a movement to create positive societal impact with its actors and their events. #MEET4IMPACT trains professionals and supports DMOs and their association clients in defining, managing, measuring and communicating the societal impacts of their activities.
Deanna Varga
Deanna Varga is a business events professional with 25 years’ experience working in the sector. She is CEO & Founder of specialist agency Mayvin Global that specialises in revenue generation, diversification and capability building across government, associations, NFP and small to medium enterprise. Deanna is an Adjunct Professor (Industry) with the University of Technology of Sydney (UTS) is a Board Director of the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM), Transport Heritage NSW ( and Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee) and Member of the Regional Advisory Board (Asia Pacific) of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). Deanna is one of the educators (and authors) of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Skills program launched in 2021.
Mayvin Global has worked with associations across a diverse portfolio including the Australian College of Remote and Regional Medicine, Institute of Quarrying Australia, Consumer Healthcare Products Australia, Women in Gaming & Hospitality Australasia and the Community Broadcasting Association. Business Events clients have included Destinations International, Business Events Sarawak, China National Convention Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre, Melbourne Convention Bureau, Northern Territory Business Events, arinex, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and Darwin Convention Centre.
Deanna is a member of PCMA, Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE).