The shift from “Next Gen” to “Emerging Leaders”
reflects the association’s position that leadership is demonstrated through
action, influence and accountability rather than tenure.
Sissi Lignou,
President of IAPCO, said: “Language shapes culture. Referring to
professionals as ‘Next Gen’ implies succession at a distance. Recognising them
as ‘Emerging Leaders’ acknowledges the leadership already taking place across
our organisations today.”
The terminology change forms part of a broader
long-term strategy focused on strengthening intergenerational collaboration,
formalising leadership pathways and embedding sustainable talent development
across the global meetings and events industry.
During the Athens meeting, IAPCO also announced the
launch of the IAPCO & FIEXPO Jorge Castex Scholarship Programme for Latin
America, sponsored by FIEXPO. The initiative extends structured
leadership recognition into a region identified as strategically significant
for the global meetings sector.
The programme is named in honour of Jorge Castex, a
past IAPCO President and former Chair of the IAPCO Training Academy, recognised
for his contribution to the development of the professional congress organiser
sector.
Arnaldo Nardone, Director of FIEXPO Exhibitions Group,
said: “We
are proud to support the IAPCO Next Generation Leadership Program in Latin
America and the Caribbean, named in honor of Jorge Castex, one of Latin America’s
most respected industry leaders and a past IAPCO President, whose visionary
leadership and unwavering commitment to professional development left a lasting
mark on the global meetings industry.
“This initiative reflects our shared commitment to professional development and leadership excellence, strengthening the global meetings industry through collaboration, legacy, and meaningful regional
Martin Boyle, CEO of IAPCO, stated: “The
long-term sustainability of the global meetings industry depends on how
deliberately we cultivate leadership across generations. Emerging Leaders must
be integrated into governance, strategy and decision-making. By formalising
this framework, we are reinforcing the professionalism, resilience and
long-term credibility of our sector.”
The 2026 IAPCO & NZICC Jan Tonkin Scholarship,
delivered in partnership with the New Zealand International Convention Centre
(NZICC) and the IAPCO Training Academy, was awarded to
Shimal Jaykant, Conference and Events Manager at Medical Conference Partners in
Malaysia. The scholarship recognises reflective and values-driven leadership
within APAC congress delivery.
Jaykant said: “Before this programme, I led mostly through
effort – doing, fixing and pushing projects forward. The learning I have
experienced has helped me shift towards intentional leadership. In complex
environments, teams don’t need more instruction; they need steadiness, clarity
and trust.”
The 2026 Emerging Leader Award, supported by IAPCO
Destination Partners, was presented to Cheryl Choy, Project Manager,
Asia – International
Conference Services (ICS), Singapore. The award recognises
early-career professionals whose work demonstrates measurable impact and
alignment with IAPCO values.
Choy was recognised for implementing a cross-functional ‘Dual Role Framework’
aimed at enhancing operational agility, employee resilience and organisational
scalability.
Choy said: “We created the ‘Dual Role Framework’ with one simple goal in mind: to help our team work smarter, not harder. By cross-training across areas that used to feel siloed, we have built a culture where people can step in, support each other, and grow beyond their original roles.”
Tags: Arnaldo Nardone, FIEXPO Exhibitions Group
