Life-long learning is ever-evolving and associations are instrumental in shaping professional development programmes for their communities. Through research, continual education, certification programmes, capacity building and by nurturing young professionals in their subject field, associations are ensuring the continual development of their profession and ultimately contributing to the evolution of Society. This session will provide some insights into professional development research, how to educate a wider audience through online programmes, building capacity to face the new normal and also introduce the concept of a “floating classroom” which includes the next generation in the work of associations.

Facilitator: 
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4Impact

“In a world full of daisies dare to be a rose.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo How can your destination become a “rose” and stand out in today’s field of “daisies”? How can you be noticed in this digital era, when so much information is bombarding everyone's senses. Be inspired by some truly extraordinary stories and follow the path your fellow destinations have taken in identifying their cultural heritage and building a new brand identity by engaging and even integrating their local communities into new business opportunities and relationships.

Facilitator: 
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4Impact

Speaker: 
José Pablo Arango, Publicist, Jorge Tadeo Lozano University

Innovation is always critical for development and growth. In times of crisis, processes that were already in play are accelerated, and people banding together will foster a new sense of social cohesion. Learn how, led by passionate changemakers, venues around the world have uncovered the power of empathy and community building. Be inspired by stories of these individuals’ deep engagement, and how they are positioning their venues to play an instrumental role in supporting their local community through new relationships and a diversified value offering.

Facilitator: 
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4Impact

Speakers: 
Angeline Van Den Broecke, Director Of Global Business Development & Marketing, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 
Robert Mercure, CEO, Palais des Congrès de Montréal

We’ve all experienced the overnight transition from f2f Meetings to online platforms in order to keep engagement and relationship-building alive. We are bombarded by scenarios of what our future may look like, and we’ve understood that the new digital landscape (involving AI, data-driven decision-making, experiential design, virtual reality, etc) will forever change the HR skill set required around designing and managing events. How will meetings management companies and technology providers address the skills gap in their workforce? How are they preparing for a potential brain drain into other sectors? Are they prepared to invest in the massive reskilling and upskilling that will be a determinant of who will survive? This session will take you on a journey of exploration of what the new essential meetings planner skills set will look like and how the meetings sector can get ready for the future of work.

Facilitator: 
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4Impact

Speakers: 
Greg Bogue, Chief Experience Architect, Maritz Global
Patrizia Buongiorno, Vice President, AIM Group International
Manish Chandak, President and CEO, Ungerboeck Software International
Sarah Markey-Hamm, CEO, ICMS

Air travel and ground transportation have been an integral part of meeting activity in the past. But this sector has been massively hit and has exposed critical vulnerabilities, and their ability to recover and adapt is a key factor to allowing face to face meetings to resume. Transporters and airports also play a critical role in securing the sanitary and safety value chain for our attendees. How is the transport sector planning for its own future and developing resiliency? How is it preparing its response to important issues of social acceptability and high environmental impact? This session will explore how a mindset of advanced technological innovation, scientific research, workforce reskilling and heightened focus on the human experience will drive a shift towards more sustainable, efficient and safer travels in the future.

Facilitator: 
Genevieve Leclerc, Co-Founder and CEO, #Meet4Impact

Speakers: 
Eduardo Sanovicz, President, ABEAR
Schiwsager Kukrija, Strategic Project Manager, Deutsche Bahn
Matt Raos, Senior Vice President Global Sales, Qatar Airways

This session is created based on crowed sourced challenges and questions in collaboration with the Sector Chairs. Stay tuned, more information will be available soon!

Speakers: 
David L. Williams, Executive Director, International Association for Energy Economics, United States Association for Energy Economics
Matt Raos, Senior Vice President Global Sales, Qatar Airways
Andrea Torrance, Senior Vice President, Accor
Hildur Baeringsdottir, Director Of Research And Lead Generation, Meet in Reykjavik/Reykjavik Convention Bureau
Jurriaen Sleijster, President and COO, MCI
Julian Graham, Safety Specialist, Centerplate

This session is created based on crowed sourced challenges and questions in collaboration with the Sector Chairs. Stay tuned, more information will be available soon!

Facilitators:
Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau
Alexey Kalachev - CEO - Russian Convention Bureau

Speakers:
Aileen Crawford, Head of Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau
Wendy Holloway, Director of Operations, International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology -ISUOG-
Ana Isabel Perez-Neira, Scientific Coordinator, Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
Vincent Docherty, Senior Manager, World Science Fiction Conventions
Frank Cuypers, Senior Strategic Consultant, Destination Think!

This session is created based on crowed sourced challenges and questions in collaboration with the Sector Chairs. Stay tuned, more information will be available soon!

Speakers: 
Anja Stas, Chief Commercial Officer, Flanders meeting and Convention Center
Manish Chandak, President and CEO, Ungerboeck Software International

This session is created based on crowed sourced challenges and questions in collaboration with the Sector Chairs. Stay tuned, more information will be available soon!

Speakers: 
Jelmer van Ast, Founder and CEO, Conference Compass
Steve Lerch, Founder and President, Story Arc Consulting

This session is created based on crowed sourced challenges and questions in collaboration with the Sector Chairs. Stay tuned, more information will be available soon!

We know the important trends. Now help us identify the key strategies that your sector could deploy against those trends to gain more business for you.

Speakers:
Paul Ouimet, Partner/President, MMGY NextFactor
Gregg Talley, President & CEO, Talley Management Group, Inc.

We know the important trends. Now help us identify the key strategies that your sector could deploy against those trends to gain more business for you.

Speakers:
Paul Ouimet, Partner/President, MMGY NextFactor
Gregg Talley, President & CEO, Talley Management Group, Inc.

We know the important trends. Now help us identify the key strategies that your sector could deploy against those trends to gain more business for you.

Speakers:
Paul Ouimet, Partner/President, MMGY NextFactor
Gregg Talley, President & CEO, Talley Management Group, Inc.

We know the important trends. Now help us identify the key strategies that your sector could deploy against those trends to gain more business for you.

Speakers:
Paul Ouimet, Partner/President, MMGY NextFactor
Gregg Talley, President & CEO, Talley Management Group, Inc.
Jurriaen Sleijster, President and COO, MCI
Thomas Wasshuber, Managing Director, Partner, STEINERLIVE.COM

We know the important trends. Now help us identify the key strategies that your sector could deploy against those trends to gain more business for you.

Speakers:
Paul Ouimet, Partner/President, MMGY NextFactor
Gregg Talley, President & CEO, Talley Management Group, Inc.