Each session is half a day with a refreshment break in the middle, except for those on Tuesday afternoon which are shorter with no break.
Breaks
1pm – 2pm CEST, 9 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour
Breaks
An opportunity for great food and to build relationships with your peers before the Medical Associations Meeting begins.
Medical Associations
2pm – 5.30pm CEST, 9 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours 30 mins
Medical Associations
Reimagining Your Flagship Event: Strategies and Solutions for Medical Associations
Executive Directors, together with their leadership teams around the world, have been operating in a highly volatile and uncertain environment, first having to cope with the covid pandemic and then with the ensuing economic slowdown, soaring inflation, and geopolitical disruption. In such a disruptive period, it’s no surprise that efforts to strengthen short-term resilience have dominated the agenda at many associations. Less obviously—but no less importantly— association’s leaders are having to address a range of organizational shifts that have significant implications for structures, processes, people, and their annual meeting. These shifts are both challenging and harbingers of opportunity, depending on how organizations address them.
In this session, we will learn about the major shifts and trends associations are facing with their meetings, and how to address them in the best possible way.
Objectives
Session format:
Social
6.30pm – 7.30pm CEST, 9 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour
Social
At the Congress Graz, in the centre of the historic city.
Social
7.30pm – 9.30pm CEST, 9 June 2024 ‐ 2 hours
Social
Limited places are available for these dinners, hosted by sponsors. When registering, indicate if you would like to attend one. These take place at the Congress Graz venue and other local restaurants.Plenary
8.30am – 8.50am CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 20 mins
Plenary
Leadership & Governance
9am – 12pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Leadership & Governance
One of the unique and challenging aspects of serving as an association executive is building an effective partnership with your volunteer leadership. As the staff leader, you are often the continuity in the organization, but you also work for the board – a group that changes every year. Sometimes they are great partners, sometimes, there are challenges.
This session provides an opportunity to hear about effective practices that have be useful in building an effective partnership with volunteer leadership, gain insights from the experience of others, and ask questions about your unique circumstances in a safe space.
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Conference & Events Strategy
9am – 12pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Conference & Events Strategy
Associations have purpose hard-wired into their very existence. But if you build it they won’t necessarily come.
As the world around us changes – cost increases, increasingly late registrations, global supply chain, geopolitical pressures, climate crisis, generational differences, shortening attention spans… how do you create an event that is both relevant to your audience and creates a significant transformation?
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Membership Strategy
9am – 12pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Membership Strategy
In today's rapidly evolving landscape, associations face significant challenges in maintaining and enhancing member engagement, as shifting member needs and the rise of digital platforms transform how interactions occur. Identifying what true engagement means and measuring it effectively remain elusive for many organisations.
This session delves into the complexities of member engagement, emphasising the critical role of adapting to digital trends and understanding evolving member expectations. It offers a comprehensive view of the hurdles and opportunities that lie ahead, providing actionable insights into how to navigate this changing terrain.
Session format:
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Executive Skills
9am – 12pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Executive Skills
Have you been wondering what coaching is about or whether and how it could support you in your endeavours? If this is the case, join this taster session for a live experience.
We will expand on how and why coaching can be a stepping stone .. as well as do some practical coaching. In case you feel stuck with a question or problem, have a difficult decision to take or any other issue you wish to find a better solution for, bring it along!
Instead of giving advice, coaching aims at helping to break through limiting behaviours or thinking patterns to open up new possibilities and solutions. It can serve to develop leadership, to concretize future plans, to support motivation, clarity and self-awareness. In this session you can experience "hot seat" coaching and learn some coaching tools that you can use in any conversation.
Structure:
Supplier Appointments
12.15pm – 1.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour 15 mins
Supplier Appointments
This session is for four appointments with strategic suppliers.
Breaks
1.30pm – 2.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour
Breaks
An opportunity for great food and to build relationships with your peers and commercial partnersAssociation Strategy
2.30pm – 5.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Association Strategy
Data and analytics are essential to driving your Association’s success. Your membership data contains invaluable insights into the behaviour of members and opportunities to increase engagement and revenue. This session will address the use of data in your Association, key technologies, what to measure and analyse, and how to forecast.
In this session, you will gain and understanding of:
Overview of Data
What to measure
Break
Technologies
Prediction and forecasting
AI and it’s use
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Conference & Events Strategy
2.30pm – 5.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Conference & Events Strategy
Generative AI is set to revolutionize the way associations engage with members, plan events, and conduct conferences. The journey though is still in its infancy, full of challenges and opportunities. We aim to demystify the application of AI, focusing on harnessing its power to innovate and enhance the association experience.
In this practical session, we explore AI from a practitioner's perspective, working on actionable insights rather than just a technology discussion. The interactive session includes delegate case studies, and a collaborative breakout to develop your organization's approach to effective and ethical use of AI, now and into the future.
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Membership Strategy
2.30pm – 5.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Membership Strategy
McKinsey called community the “big idea” in marketing for the decade and there are many reasons why ‘online community’ has become so much more than a buzzphrase for member associations.
But getting the ingredients right for successful online communities requires blending art, science and most importantly, effort.
This session highlights member organisations generating value from placing community at the heart of their member offering. But it also acknowledges and addresses challenges around setting up and resourcing member communities.
We address the governance and data trade offs that associations make when using ‘free’ platforms (WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn etc.) and the impact on member data, GDPR risks and other governance challenges. And we look at some of the private community platforms being used by member organisations.
Whether you have existing online communities or plan to create them, you’ll leave the session understanding how to create optimal online community conditions for different member types. You also have a framework to launch, create and sustain engaged and valuable long term member communities.
Session format:
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Membership Strategy
2.30pm – 5.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Membership Strategy
Trade federations are relying on a sound membership base for both their advocacy work and for the budget needed to run the organization. Retaining existing members and – ideally - attracting new ones is thus an absolute priority for a healthy association.
This session will help trade federation staff to better understand the risks and “whys” of losing members and developing practical strategies to delight members in order to secure a stable (and happy) membership base, as well as examinging our challenges and strategies to attract new members.
During this session, we will address:
Session format:
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Supplier Appointments
5.45pm – 6.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 45 mins
Supplier Appointments
This session is for two appointments with strategic suppliers.
Social
7.30pm – 10.30pm CEST, 10 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Social
The Congress Dinner & Awards Ceremony is being held in the Old University in the centre of Graz, and hosted by the Graz Convention Bureau and the AAE.
The Ceremony for the International & European Association Awards 2024 will feature, where the finalists are recognsised and everyone will hear who has won, in each of the 16 categories.
Network with fellow delegates, session leaders and association experts and suppliers, whilst enjoying a meal together.
Leadership & Governance
8.30am – 11.30am CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Leadership & Governance
Technology, the ability to connect virtually, globally, global supply chain challenges, sustainability efforts, certification, regulations, etc. The challenges facing multinational associations are becoming more and more of a challenge. But the ability to deliver impact for a global industry or profession is greater now more than ever.
During our session, we will dig into the unique challenges facing associations representing perspectives from multiple nations, regions, jurisdictions. This will be an open and engaging session where we can ask questions, explore ideas that have been effective is delivering success and learn from each other.
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Conference & Events Strategy
8.30am – 11.30am CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Conference & Events Strategy
Across industries large and small, more and more great brands are investing in sponsorships. In tandem, the types of sponsorships and available opportunities are changing at a rapid pace as well. However companies are driven by data collection, ROI and VFM. That means tracking value and return on investment has never been more challenging, nor more important.
Today strategic communication is at the heart of value-driven sponsorship and even the most deserving causes and content must meet the corporate objectives. It is also an increasingly ferocious and competitive landscape in continuous mutation. So how do sponsors measure impact and maximize return on investment? Traditional methodologies are antiquated. With the rise of social media sharing and OTT delivery, a complete data set is not just important, it’s essential. Of additional importance is understanding the new and evolving sponsorship landscape.
This session will explore not just the change in sponsorship opportunities but also the change in placement quality.
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Membership Strategy
8.30am – 11.30am CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Membership Strategy
In today’s rapidly changing landscape, only change is constant – and associations need to adapt better and quicker than ever before. Members’ attentions are being pulled in a million different directions which means that all associations have to work not just harder but also smarter in keeping them engaged. Steering an association in the right direction is paramount to its success, but, as association leaders, how do we know what our members really want and need? How do we overcome challenges around conflicting member needs, board priorities, and our own executive focus? How do we manage mismatched expectations?
This hands-on session explores the changing dynamics and topical challenges around member and board needs and expectations, mapping out journeys and solutions towards agile, efficient association strategies.
The session will leave you with a clear understanding of your own and your association peers’ challenges around engaging members and your board, and how to address them in an agile, transparent way – with concrete, immediate takeaways to implement in your association.
Session format:
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Membership Strategy
8.30am – 11.30am CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 3 hours
Membership Strategy
In this session you will learn how to get the best out of your CRM for association success. Ben Sturt, a leading digital and data consultant with deep expereince in the Membership sector, will facilitate, inform and educate.
You'll uncover the foundations to setting up a successful CRM project, get to recognise common pitfalls and how they can be avoided. As you assess your business and review your CRM and whether to replace or improve, you'll almost certainly start to notice key themes where improvements can be made, both quick wins and longer term strategies. In the session we'll pick up on some of those key themes and how you can make some quick wins and planned longer term strategic improvements.
Session format:
The format and content may be adapted to more closely match the requirements of delegates as provided in the input form.
Supplier Appointments
11.45am – 1pm CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour 15 mins
Supplier Appointments
This session is for four appointments with strategic suppliers.
Breaks
1pm – 2pm CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 1 hour
Breaks
An opportunity for great food and to build relationships with your peers and commercial partners.
Association Strategy
2pm – 4pm CEST, 11 June 2024 ‐ 2 hours
Association Strategy
A selection of Finalist projects in the International & European Association Success Awards are presented for delegate's to learn how they also can improve, develop or transform their organsation, services, events and other activities.
Projects are in the categories of:
CEO, Kenes Group
Ori joined Kenes in 2013 as VP Marketing, bringing more than 15 years of marketing experience to the management team. Ori’s expertise includes implementing marketing strategies, ATL/BTL and leading digital campaigns in online/social media channels. He began his career in the communications industry, where he held marketing positions at Internet, voice and mobile telecom providers. This was followed by a senior role in the automotive sector with a start-up that raised US$ 900M to manufacture electric cars.
After 4 years in Kenes Group, Ori moved to manage the Client Accounts & Operations business unit.
At the beginning of 2017, Ori also became an IAPCO Council Member (IAPCO – the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers), currently, serves as the association's Immediate Past President President.
Ori was announced as Kenes Group's CEO at the beginning of 2022. His appointment marks the first time a CEO is not from a family member in 57 years.
Lahav was recognised by event professionals in the Eventex Top 100 Most Influential People in the industry for four consecutive years.
In addition, Ori speaks at different industry events: IAPCO EDGE Seminars, PCMA Convening Leaders, ICCA World Congress, Event Innovation summit, IMEX and more.
Ori holds a BA in Statistics from the University of Haifa and an MBA from the University of Derby, UK.
Executive Director, Association of Association Executives
I’m responsible for the strategy and operational management of the Association of Association Executives, with all members of the team reporting to me. With the advice of members, Advisory Panel members, and the team, I decide what new products and services to offer, and how they should be fulfilled.Principal Consultant, Tecker International
Throughout his career, Jim has been a catalyst for growth, redesign, and positive change. He has worked with leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and is most skilled at building the bridges between them and has helped national organizations move beyond their differences and overcome paralysis by helping them see mutual and connected interests. Jim has rebuilt deeply troubled organizations whilst creating national brand strategy and advocacy frameworks.
Jim has served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Optometric Association, the Jefferson Center and Jefferson Action. His experience also includes working with national medical specialty societies in the Office of Federation Relations at the American Medical Association. Prior to that, he was in charge of federal and state government and chapter relations for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Managing Director, The Business Narrative
Award-winning events strategist, Sasha Frieze, has distilled over thirty years' and a thousand successful conferences and events’ experience into this Event Playbook event transformation methodology.
Sasha learned her business skills in the commercial conference industry, worked on her first association conference over 23 years ago; has since managed and advised on events for association and other non-profits including the Open Data Institute, United Nations Foundation, British Society for Immunology, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Chartered Institute of Wastes Management. Sasha has advised on events for media owners including The Guardian, Times & Sunday Times, Incisive Media, Informa and Thomson Reuters.
Sasha is a Non-Executive Director of the British Society for Haematology, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and The Royal Society of Arts, is a visiting lecturer in event management at The University of Westminster, London and judges industry awards.
Managing Director, Dovetail Creative
Lisa has been building powerful networks and communities for over 25 years, ensuring the groups she works with thrive and grow. After a flourishing career working for a variety of associations, membership bodies and not for profit organisations, Lisa launched her own agency, Dovetail Creative Ltd, in 2021 and now supports a variety of organisations with all aspects of community, member and customer forum engagement, events, marketing strategy, and consultancy.
Lisa is a frequent speaker and moderator at industry events and is on the board for RISE and Trade Association Forum. In addition, Lisa is involved in several mentoring programmes enabling her to pass on skills and knowledge to help others grow. Lisa has a passion for ESG initiatives and is co-producer of the Media Tech Sustainability Summit and Corporate Star Awards.
Founder , Re-Focus Coaching & Consulting
Fascinated with both people and organisations and how they function, Lisa has built her career in leading various international trade federations. She has a track record of building extensive networks from scratch, creating visibility and driving impactful, global solutions.
In 2020, she created her own business, Re-Focus Coaching & Consulting, to support organizations and in particular trade federations as a project and management consultant, as well as providing coaching and trainings to support individuals and organizations to thrive. She is passionate about increasing the impact of female leaders.
Lisa believes that the personal development of individuals does not only benefit the people themselves in terms of performance and wellbeing, but that conscious and empowered leaders are the cornerstone of any successful organization.
Consultant, Membership Insights
Charles is a strategic business leader with extensive experience in the private and not for profit sectors. Skilled with data analytics, digital transformation, managing change and leading open and collaborative working cultures; creating effective business strategies; devising clear and efficient business processes and management reporting; new service development; and managing profit and loss to deliver increased revenue.
Career covers working for companies in membership, the built environment and healthcare to education and finance and in organisations from corporations and public sector to SMEs and start-ups.
Specialities: Digital transformation, leadership, strategy, CRM, project management, operations management, new service development, business process mapping, digital marketing, profit and loss management, culture and organisational change, business processes, customer service, event production, finance and public speaking.
Chief Technology Officer & Founder, Fresh Solutions
Mark is a strategist, author, and entrepreneur. His work combines collective intelligence with networks, complex systems, behavioral science and neuroscience. He is the founder of Orcasci, a consulting firm designing scaling and network strategies with recent clients including the $1m Global Teacher Prize with the Varkey Foundation.
Previously Mark co-founded Imaginatik plc, a pioneer in crowdsourcing and collaborative problem solving for innovation. During his 16 years at Imaginatik, Mark worked with hundreds of companies, including Allianz, Bayer, Cargill, IBM, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Whirlpool and Xerox. The World Economic Forum nominated him a Technology Pioneer and a Young Global Leader. Mark is a Professor at Hult International Business School.
CEO & Founder, Fresh Solutions ltd
With experience as an international business leader and innovation practitioner, Stéphanie know what it takes to make impactful innovation and cultural change happen in the public and private sectors. Since 2017, as founder and CEO of Fresh Strategy, she has been on a mission to help organisations deliver innovation that makes a real difference.
Fresh Strategy was founded on the belief that innovation can be a force for good, and that the actions of single people and organisations collectively have the power to change the world. Through sharing knowledge, experience and expertise, they help everyone realise their potential to become a catalyst for change.
Stéphanie's work is centred around deep global and local experience across a variety of sectors and industries, embracing complexity and prioritising simplicity to successfully lead complex strategic processes and deliver excellent results.
Community Consultant, Michelle Goodall Consultancy
Michelle Goodall is a community strategy, marketing and communications leader focused on community building, community led growth and community based marketing. She is a recognised leading specialist, speaker, trainer and lecturer with 25 years experience in a mix of consultancy, agency and in-house roles. Co-author of Community Based Marketing (CBM) Best Practice Guide and creator of The Periodic Table of Community Strategy.
Michelle has also lectured in Community Strategy at Manchester Metropolitan University. Michelle has worked with clients in multiple sectors, industries and countries building thriving communities and networks that deliver results for organisations, brands and businesses in multiple sectors across the world.
Founder , Re-Focus Coaching & Consulting
Fascinated with both people and organisations and how they function, Lisa has built her career in leading various international trade federations. She has a track record of building extensive networks from scratch, creating visibility and driving impactful, global solutions.
In 2020, she created her own business, Re-Focus Coaching & Consulting, to support organizations and in particular trade federations as a project and management consultant, as well as providing coaching and trainings to support individuals and organizations to thrive. She is passionate about increasing the impact of female leaders.
Lisa believes that the personal development of individuals does not only benefit the people themselves in terms of performance and wellbeing, but that conscious and empowered leaders are the cornerstone of any successful organization.
Principal Consultant, Tecker International
Throughout his career, Jim has been a catalyst for growth, redesign, and positive change. He has worked with leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and is most skilled at building the bridges between them and has helped national organizations move beyond their differences and overcome paralysis by helping them see mutual and connected interests. Jim has rebuilt deeply troubled organizations whilst creating national brand strategy and advocacy frameworks.
Jim has served as Executive Director of the Minnesota Optometric Association, the Jefferson Center and Jefferson Action. His experience also includes working with national medical specialty societies in the Office of Federation Relations at the American Medical Association. Prior to that, he was in charge of federal and state government and chapter relations for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Executive Director, CPL Meetings & Events
Linda is passionate about associations and is particularly active in the professional associations in her own field. She is also a consultant to a variety of associations. In 2008 she was considered one of Portugal’s five most influential people in the conference & events industry and received the education award from IAHMP.
Respected internationally as a speaker Linda has lectured in countries such as Italy, Spain, Russia, Egypt, Cape Verde, United Kingdom, Dubai, Spain and The Netherlands. In 2009 she received the medal of honour for positive entrepreneurship in Portugal for her commitment to promoting culture and heritage and for CSR initiatives.
Chief Executive Officer, Association of Translation Companies
Raisa steers the UK’s Association of Translation Companies, representing the voice of over 200 language service companies providing translation, interpreting and other language services to clients across the world.
As the ATC’s CEO, Raisa’s focus is on supporting a community of language service companies, collaborating with external stakeholders on best practice, policy and sustainable development of the language services industry. She is also the association’s Lead on Standards, driving adoption and certification to ISO standards.
Raisa is an experienced language services production, training and quality manager. She holds an MA in Translation & Interpreting from her native Finland.
Managing Director, Chrysalis Digital
Ben has worked closely with Membership organisations for over 20 years, spanning many sub-verticals within this sector. Leading and supporting on digital transformation for many membership organisations during this time.
With this wealth of experience he aunched Chrysalis Digital in 2015. Drawing upon the deep understanding and unique challenges within this sector Ben is able to create and lead digital strategy transformation enabling Membership organisations to deliver compelling digital outcomes.
Awards & Success Story Manager, Association of Association Executives
Anca has been with AAE since 2011, and manages the Association Awards programme of three Awards per year internationally, and she produces Association Success story case studies for our Resource Centre.
Anca has a BA in Sociology, and an MA from the University of Greenwhich. She is a certified Certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a Certified Master Practitioner of Time Line Therapy and a Certified Master Hypnotist.