The event will take place at MTP Poznań Expo, placing delegates in one of Poland’s established exhibition environments and a city with a long trade fair history and a position connecting European markets.
The Poznań event is the second IFES MasterClass of 2026, following the collaborative IFES/EDPA MasterClass held in Dallas, Texas, in August. The two events extend IFES learning activities across two continents and form part of the organization’s professional development programme for the global exhibition community.
Under the theme “Futureproof Your Personal Toolbox”, the programme will focus on skills related to changing client expectations, technology and ways of working.
The programme will open with Speak Exhibitor, led by Agnieszka Garboś, focusing on the business objectives behind client briefs and the relationship between exhibitors and service providers. Keynote speaker Agnieszka Maruda will then present Future-Proof Under Pressure, covering resilience, emotional regulation and approaches to working in demanding event environments. In Beyond the Brief, Han Leenhouts and Lee Ali will bring together contractor and exhibitor perspectives, examining how questions can identify objectives, develop briefs and support client relationships. The programme will also include the AI Productivity Lab, led by Matt Hughes, Microsoft Certified Trainer and founder of TubeFest and Festival of AI. The workshop will involve the development of an AI-powered tool based on a workplace challenge.
On Friday, Aliya Rajah, Executive Presence and Public Speaking Coach, will lead Building Executive Presence, focusing on communication, trust and influence.
The programme will conclude with Futureproof Your Career, a panel moderated by IFES President Jörg Zeissig. The session will address leadership lessons, future skills and international careers in the exhibition industry. Delegates will then develop their own Futureproof Career Plan.
“The most useful professional development gives people something they can put into practice as soon as they return to work,” says Lee Ali, of the IFES Education Committee. “In Poznań, we want participants to test ideas, challenge familiar habits and learn from colleagues whose markets and experiences may be very different from their own.”
The MasterClass programme will also include activities outside the classroom. On Thursday, delegates will visit the Poznań Croissant Museum & Experience for an introduction to the city’s St. Martin’s Croissant tradition, combining local culture, history and food.
The programme will continue with an evening networking dinner at Just Friends in the Old Town Square. The dinner will feature a sharing-style menu centred on Greater Poland cuisine and will provide additional opportunities for delegates to network.
Registration for IFES MasterClass 2026 – Poznań is open.
Tags: Lee Ali, IFES Education Committee International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES)
