Press Release – Brussels AIPC Future Shapers prepare to take Centre Stage in 2023

Date: 02/11/2022

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Brussels (November 2nd 2022) – The 2023 AIPC Future Shapers program commences this week with global representation and an ever more diverse cohort of convention centre management high achievers.

Thirteen new candidates have been accepted into the eight-month accelerated leadership course, which aims to propel the industry’s developing leaders to the next level in their careers, through a series of masterclasses, ideation and business case development skill development and the opportunity to promote their solutions to challenges currently faced by convention centre managers.

AIPC Chairman, Greg O’Dell said this year’s participants were in for another blockbuster program and he looked forward to seeing them grow and share their ideas for an ever better industry at the 2023 AIPC Conference in Luxembourg next July.

“The AIPC Future Shapers have delivered lasting legacies to the industry, delivering solutions that were well beyond our expectations – both of which are aimed at delivering client liaison and communication efficiencies and are at varying stages of commercialisation.

“A winning formula for preparing high achievers to shape the future of our industry has now been established through the AIPC Future Shapers program and I know this year’s students will again embrace the program and impress venue management leaders across the globe.

“From event managers and planners to technology and customer service experts to finance gurus and even an executive chef, this year promises to be another high intensity learning and project delivery journey for them all”, Mr O’Dell said.

The thirteen candidates, their venues and roles are:

Name Function Venue Country
Arthur Mok Event Manager Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Hong Kong
Kate Abbott Customer Experience Manager Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Australia
Katie Tinetti Senior Manager, Innovation Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Australia
Sathyan Chandrasekhar Financial Controller International Convention Centre Sydney Australia
Wadhah Abdullah Ahmed Al Harthi Event Planner Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre Oman
James Walker Head of Technical Services Scottish Event Campus United Kingdom
Fiona McGibbon Head of Sales Scottish Event Campus United Kingdom
Dana Fish Senior Business Development Manager International Convention Centre Sydney Australia
Arisha Sukaloo Revenue Manager Cape Town International Convention Centre South-Africa
Sibongiseni W Gcelu Executive Sous-Chef Cape Town International Convention Centre South-Africa
Anna Szabo Sales Manager HUNGEXPO Hungary
Laurel Gray Senior Event Manager ICC Belfast Northern Ireland
Jacqueline Elder Operational Project Lead Scottish Event Campus United Kingdom

AIPC CEO, Sven Bossu said he was looking forward to supporting the next generation of CEOs to think and act like leaders over the eight-month course.

“AIPC Future Shapers is an interactive roadmap towards excellence in convention centre management, requiring intense commitment and engagement of the participants and in return the candidates not only accelerate their leadership capabilities, they are also provided the opportunity to help shape the future of the AIPC Community. The Future Shapers program comprises three main components:

Stage One – Masterclasses: a series of seven expert led masterclasses for education and collaboration.

Stage Two – Industry challenge: collectively identify an industry challenge, create a proposed solution, and develop a business case for investment, which will be detailed in a white paper and published to the AIPC community.

Stage 3 – Challenge presentation: the opportunity to pitch potential legacy solutions for the convention centre management industry to an audience of global leaders during the AIPC Annual Conference in Luxembourg, which takes place 16 to 19 July 2023.

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