Paris – 2 May 2024: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and The International Association of Exhibitions and Events® (IAEE), announced today they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU re-establishes a regular exchange between the associations benefitting their respective members, while also promoting the industry at large. Both partners agree on the value of collaborating on common initiatives, exchanging information and supporting industry developments.

“IAEE is pleased to expand upon its international partnerships through this MOU with UFI,” said IAEE Chairperson Marie Browne, Group Vice President, RX Americas. “Cultivating relationships that enrich our member offerings and bring attention to the remarkable contributions exhibitions and events make to the global economy is among IAEE’s top priorities. We look forward to working with UFI to deliver these benefits.”

“Collaboration has been the genetic code of UFI since its beginnings 100 years ago,” said UFI President Geoff Dickinson, CEO of dmg events. “Today, more than 70 exhibition and event industry associations from around the world are members of UFI, a testament to UFI’s role as the leading global body of our industry. Besides that, we partner in other ways for the good of the industry. With our new North America Chapter, we want to make sure to deepen the relationships with the associations where we currently don’t have them, and we certainly hope that this MoU with IAEE will herald the beginning of a new chapter here.”

The organisations will initially focus on advocacy by driving support for the Exhibitions and Conference Alliance’s (ECA) annual Legislative Action Day to be held on 30 May 2024 in Washington, D.C. IAEE will also contribute to Global Exhibitions Day on 5 June 2024, the global industry awareness day for the industry for which UFI serves as the project lead and office.

Other areas covered by the MoU include collaborations on upcoming events, such as the China Expo Forum for International Cooperation (CEFCO), of which both associations are co-organisers, and a dialogue around research-related issues.

Attachment:

• UFI and IAEE leadership

Download this Press Release

• Five recipients selected by international jury chaired by UFI President Geoff Dickinson
• Grantees to assess strategic and operational potential of AI for exhibition and business events industry
• NGL project to kick off in Zurich at the 2024 UFI European Conference

Paris – 25 April 2024: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) grant. This year’s awardees were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants by a distinguished panel of international judges chaired by UFI President Geoff Dickinson.

Now in its 8th edition, the NGL grant is designed to identify and nurture emerging talent within the exhibition industry. To be eligible, candidates must have worked for less than ten years in the exhibition industry and show clear initiative for driving change in their fields.

Sponsored by Clarion Events, dmg events, Informa Markets, and RX, winners receive mentorship and support from leading global industry executives, making it the most prestigious talent accelerator programme of its kind.

The 2024 NGL grant winners are:

• Ana Carolina Aguilera – Institutional Affairs Coordinator, FEXPOCRUZ (Bolivia)
• Celia Hidalgo Calvo – Digital Strategist, IFEMA Madrid (Spain)
• Alexander Caspari – Manager Corporate Development & Sustainability, Koelnmesse (Germany)
• Lesley Gurney – Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, ICC Sydney (Australia)
• Nadja Hutton-Mills – Business Development Manager for Europe & Middle East, August Robotics (Germany)

The 2024 NGL mission focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and those selected stood out as proactive thinkers and doers shaping the future of this emerging technology. Together, the NGL grantees will assess the strategic and operational potential of the rise of AI for the exhibitions and business events industry.

The Jury:

The jury was chaired by Geoff Dickinson – UFI President and CEO of dmg events – and included:

• Damion Angus – Group Managing Director, Montgomery Group
• Silvia Bassino – Director of Human Resources & Organisation, Fiera Milano
• Kurt Gamauf – Vice President of Human Resources, RX Global
• Elizabeth George – Senior Conference Lead, HIMSS Global Conference, Informa Markets and NGL Alumna
• Kai Hattendorf – CEO, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
• Justine Kendall – Director of Human Resources and Employee Benefits, Clarion Events North America
• Sean Ongers – Head of Global Learning & Performance, Informa Markets
• Rachel Wimberly – Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and M&A, North America, Hyve Group

“The UFI Next Generation Leadership grant is a beacon of innovation and excellence, and I congratulate this year’s recipients on this outstanding achievement. Their passion and dedication to advancing the exhibition industry are truly inspiring and are a testament to its bright future. I look forward to witnessing the meaningful and lasting contributions they’ll make for our industry,” commented UFI President Geoff Dickinson.

Awardees will kick off their project during an in-person workshop at the UFI European Conference in Zurich, Switzerland. They will then develop their project online over the course of seven months. The programme will culminate with a group presentation at the 91st UFI Global Congress in Cologne, Germany, providing them with a platform to showcase their vision and expertise on a global stage.

UFI congratulates the recipients of the 2024 Next Generation Leadership grant and looks forward to supporting them as they embark on this exciting journey.

For more information about the NGL Grant, visit the UFI website: www.ufi.org/ngl.

Attachments:

• UFI NGL 2024 visual
• Picture of 2024 NGL grant winners

Download this Press Release