The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to work on three key issues facing the business events industry.
With pen being put to paper at AIME 2024, ABEA and ICCA plan to collectively amplify their core values and positions on three pillars: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); Legacy and Sustainability; and Talent Development and Retention.
ABEA Chair, Peter King said that as the leading voice for business events, this was an opportunity to harness well-renowned international expertise and connections to amplify the work of ABEA for its members.
“We know our members are needing to embed DEI principles, sustainability, and develop talent to thrive in the competitive marketplace,” he said.
“Our partnership with ICCA is designed to provide unparalleled opportunities for our members, and the sector, to tackle these challenges head on.
“By joining forces with ICCA, the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, we can pool our resources and focus to achieve the outcomes we all need.”
ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath, said that ABEA had led the way with its unification of industry bodies.
“We are delighted to work with the Australian Business Events Association team to take strong, practical, and impactful steps to supporting the success of the Australian industry,” he said.
“ICCA brings world-class programs, connections and experience that we willingly share with our Australian colleagues.”
The three pillars of the agreement detail the work the two organisations will complete together.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
ABEA and ICCA will support members and associations in their DEI practices by collecting and sharing case studies, co-publishing a white paper focusing on the impacts and opportunities of multiculturalism in the business events industry, and ABEA members will have access to ICCA’s International Business Events Preceptorship Programme that facilitates educational mentoring opportunities with ICCA global members.
Legacy and Sustainable Industry
ICCA will initiate cross-regional collaboration on business events legacy impact with ABEA through case studies and other information sharing, and the two organisations will host quarterly meetings to discuss progress, stakeholder engagement and advocacy programs.
Talent Development and Retention
ABEA and ICCA will collaborate on the Emerging Leaders Challenge at AIME 2024. This programme aims to provide recognition and a voice for emerging leader professionals to share their ideas on refining the Business Events proposition in the area of talent attraction and retention. They will review the Emerging Leaders Challenge in 2024 to address how the program will be delivered for 2025.
