Headline: Have your say
The deadline is looming to complete our survey which will help us to help you to #BUILDBACKBETTEREVENTS
Don’t delay, have your say and complete it today here
Headline: Opportunity Knocks
We were invited to contribute to M&IT Magazine in May when Paul Harvey spoke with members and founders of IEM about its mission for the sector.
If you missed it, you can read the full article here: MITMagazine Opportunity Knocks
Point of View: Sven Bossu
Sven Bossu
CEO at AIPC
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sven-bossu-7057131/
As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.
Sven Bossu joined AIPC as CEO in May 2020. Together with the Board, the Members and the Business Partners he will be spearheading a transformation programme which will result into an entirely new value proposal to Convention and Exhibition Centres across the globe based on the changing needs of the members and the challenges they are facing. Before joining AIPC, Sven worked as Managing Director at ESTRO (European Society for Radiation Oncology). He successfully led the branding, marketing and digital transformation of ESTRO – a massive project which was finalized in April 2020. It included a full re-branding, implementation of a new CMS and CRM system, the creation and implementation of a marketing strategy and a complete re-vamp of the annual congress. Prior to joining ESTRO, Sven worked for 20 years in the financials services world. The first 10 years of his career he worked as an international programme manager at ING, followed by 10 years at SWIFT – the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications. At SWIFT, Sven oversaw Sibos – SWIFT’ s flagship event which brings together over 8,000 decision takers form over 150 countries for four days to discuss the common challenges the financial community faces and the common solutions to be put in place. Sven holds a degree in anthropology. He works and lives in Belgium, has two children and loves to read.
Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A For me, IEM is about two things. First, it provides a great platform to connect with a wide variety of personalities and share thoughts about the one thing we all have in common: a passion for organised events. Secondly, it’s also about the shared ambition of bringing excellence to the event industry by creating standards, which is also a core mission of AIPC.
Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A The variety of people involved and the shared mission with AIPC: bringing excellence by setting standards, doing research and offering professional education.
Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A The ambition should be that the IEM becomes the reference for the event industry in terms of standards and resources, in partnership with existing organizations.
Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A Organising the opening of Sibos 2015 in Singapore. I have never experienced such a positive energy and drive from an 8,000 audience consisting of bankers and finance people.
Headline: Help us to help you
Help us to help you in our combined efforts to #BUILDBACKBETTEREVENTS by completing and sharing our survey on the events industry, which you can find here
Headline: #BUILDBACKBETTEREVENTS
We have had fantastic feedback on our #BUILDBACKBETTEREVENTS webinar held on the 9th June looking at the results of the Test Events which formed part of the UK Government’s pilot to reopening the industry. If you missed it, or would like to watch again, the recording is available here
Also, please help us to serve our industry in its efforts to #BUILDBACKBETTEREVENTS by completing our survey here
Point of View: Marie Townshend
Marie Townshend
Conferences and Operations Manager at British Occupational Hygiene Society
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marie-townshend-a7408b31/
As part of our commitment to championing the industry, we are talking to people about their careers and what IEM means to them.
Marie Townshend I was 21 and studying for a part time law degree while working full time. She was given a series of roadshows to plan and manage and BOOM, that was it, her love and passion for event management was born and she hasn’t looked back!
From Gala Bingo re-branding, taking the marketing team around the country walking club managers through the new look and advertising, to the HMV training centre, booking and planning management training and teambuilding events, then from introducing a Farmers Market into Nottingham Old Market Square, and securing deals with Fortnum and Mason at food shows in London for small local East Midlands food businesses, to launching new conferences in the environmental services industry. Now 25 years later, Marie works for a chartered society tasked with worker health protection and dealing with the move to virtual events throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to provide guidance and support reducing ill health at work.
Q What does the IEM mean to you?
A It’s a place to have our industry recognised and provide a benchmark for standards of professionalism.
Q Why did you decide it was important for you to get involved?
A I work for a Chartered Society and I see how passionate our members are and how proud they are to have their achievements, knowledge and experience recognised by working through their chartership journey, so when I saw that my industry had a body to join I didn’t hesitate!
Q Where do you hope to see the IEM in 20 years’ time?
A The go to organisation for all event management professionals, the recognised institute to prove a level of competence and experience.
Q What is your favourite event related memory?
A In 2019 I persuaded our board to go ahead with Brighton as the location for our annual conference. As part of this I planned pre-dinner drinks on the British Airways i360 and managed to get 200 people from the hotel, through security, drinks in hand enjoying beautiful sunset views of the sea gliding up to the top and back down then back across the road in time for dinner. I don’t usually blow my own trumpet but that was good!
