Associations World Congress 2025

Michael Brunt

Co-Founder, HBM Advisory

No bio provided

: https://www.hbmadvisory.com

Barbara Grobicki

Executive Director, Strategic Management Society

No bio provided

: www.strategicmanagement.net

David Hicks

Global Experience Thought Leader; XM Coach Co-Founder & Chairman, XM Coach | TribeCX | TMD

With over 40 years of experience as a senior Customer Experience (CX) executive, David helps leaders transform their business performance through customer-centric change. He coaches, equips, and empowers Fortune 1000 executives and their teams to design and deliver exceptional experiences that align with their brand promise and drive measurable results. He also advises governments, major Not-For-Profit organisations, and start-ups on CX strategy, culture, and execution.

: https://xmcoach.com
: davidhicksxmcoach

Tim Hughes

Deputy Executive Director, International Bar Association

Tim Hughes has been Deputy Executive Director of the International Bar Association for over two decades, working to build its revenue and its international legal programmes and objectives. Prior to this he held senior management positions in several multinational FTSE 100 companies, and acted as an adviser in post-war Croatia. He is also a speaker on themes of culture and heritage.

Alan Hunter

Co-Founder, HBM Advisory

Co-founder of HBM Advisory, a strategic consultancy that helps organisations unlock the full potential of their content businesses.

He works with publishers, both traditional news & information businesses and their challengers, to align products and content to the needs of their users; he advises on how to optimise customer journeys and build successful monetisation options; and share his experience on how to transform businesses to take full advantage of the digital revolution.

Alan's experience at some of the world’s leading digital news publishers allows him to make sure clients have all aspects of their business focused on the right goals.

Among his clients are The Wall Street Journal, Future plc, Harvard Business Review, The Scotsman, The Indian Express, MIT Technology Review, the Royal Opera House and the Association of Association Executives with its 'Associations Spotlight' service.

Prior to setting up HBM Advisory, Alan was Head of Digital at The Times and The Sunday Times in London. He was responsible for all their output on digital platforms and led the transformation in their product, content and newsroom which saw subscriptions double during his tenure.

Alan is an experienced journalist having edited sections of The Sunday Times including News Review and Focus, after beginning his career working in magazines such as Wallpaper, Tatler and Inside Sport.

: https://www.hbmadvisory.com

Raza Hussain

Co-Founder, Global Artificial Intelligence Leaders Network

No bio provided

: raza-hussain-08a1a697

John Peacock

CEO, Associations Forum, Consultant & Director, Governology (UK)

John Peacock, CEO, Associations Forum (Australia) and Director, Governology (UK)

John is one of Australia’s most experienced advisors to associations and charities and is a thought leader for the associations sector. He is a regular national and international presenter, on matters essential to the governance and operations of associations, charities and other mutual bodies.

Since 2000, John has trained and consulted to hundreds of associations and charities, large and small, on strategic planning, governance, Board effectiveness, operations, restructuring, financial issues and external reviews.

His particular areas of specialisation are governance, constitutions, mergers of associations and developing association plans that can be translated into actions..

John’s work with associations was recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List with his appointment as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to the associations and not-for-profit sectors through a range of initiatives.

www.governology.org

: www.governology.org

Rennie Schafer

Chief Executive Officer, Self Storage Association

Rennie has been in association management for most of his working life, starting with the Australian Meat Industry Council in 1998.  He has been at CEO level of industry associations for 21 years and is currently the CEO of the Federation of European Self Storage Associations which he more than tripled in turnover over the past 5 years.  He is also the CEO of the Self Storage Association UK, building it to be the second largest association in this sector in the world.  Rennie has worked with a range of associations in 3 continents, often assisting them in developing their strategic direction.  He has also been a board member of several charitable organisations, mostly in the early childhood education sector.  He has an MBA from Deakin University and is a member of the Oxford University High Performance Leadership Programme.

 

: https://www.ssauk.com/
: rennie-schafer-b1903a10

Simon Shelley

Consultant & Advisor , former Global Director of Programming, BBC Studios

Simon has been working with associations for over 15 years, supporting them to tell their stories through video. He was the founder and leader of the multi-award winning Programme Partnerships at BBC Studios, developing a unique team creating extraordinary content and campaigns for organisations across the world.

He currently holds a senior executive role at Hi Impact, a fast-growing media company with a global reach. Hi Impact are creators of the COP29 Daily Show, broadcast on over 50 TV networks and FAST channels worldwide, working in partnership with LinkedIn News and YouTube to make the climate conversation accessible and relatable.  Hi Impact works with a range of partners to bring the most compelling stories to screen, stream and broadcast them to wider audiences; doing so in a style demanded by modern, discerning viewers.

: simonshelley

Charlie Woodward

CEO & Co-Founder, Natter

No bio provided

: www.trynatter.com

Lisa Collins

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.

: https://www.dovetailcreative.co.uk/
: lisaibbotson

Sasha Frieze

Managing Director, The Business Narrative, Author, The Chief Event Officer’s Playbook

Sasha Frieze FRSA FCIM is an award-winning event strategist and consultant, who’s delivered 1,000+ events (500+ association) in 30+ years.  

The author of the forthcoming book The Chief Event Officer’s Playbook – how to create transformational events, Sasha has worked for decades with clients across media owners, conference and exhibition companies, corporates, associations and non-profits. Her clients include the United Nations Foundation, The Guardian, The BMJ, the Open Data Institute, Raymond James, Incisive Media, the British Society for Immunology and the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

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.

: https://thebusinessnarrative.com/
: sashafrieze

Stéphanie Kioutsoukis

CEO & Founder, Fresh Strategies & Solutions

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.

: freshstrategy.ch
: skioutsoukis/

Jim Meffert

Principal Consultant & Strategist, 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.

: https://www.tecker.com/contact-us/
: jimmeffert

Linda Pereira

Executive Director, CPL Events & Consultancy

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.

: http://www.cplevents.pt/
: linda-pereira-phd-68a36a8

Alex Skinner

Chief Executive Officer, Pixl8 Group

No bio provided

: https://pixl8.com/en/
: meta-alex

Ben Sturt

Lead Consultant & Founder, Chrysalis Digital

Ben has worked closely with Membership organisations for over 20 years, spanning many sub-verticals within this field, leading and supporting on digital transformations for many membership organisations.

With this wealth of experience he launched Chrysalis Digital in 2015, drawing upon the deep understanding and unique challenges within membership organisations.  Ben creates and leads digital strategy transformations enabling membership organisations to achieve successful digital outcomes.

: https://chrysalisdigital.co.uk/
: bensturt

Cecilia Spoor EMIAM

Leadership Programme Director, Association of Association Executives

I look after the leadership activities for the AAE. This involves chairing the Leaders Forums at the UK and the World Associations Congresses, as well the Leaders Summits and identifying other opportunities to support association leaders, for example new programmes and forums to bring Executive Heads together. 

I have been working on the AAE leaders events for eight years, contributed to the leadership aspects of all AAE's activities, and have an Executive Masters in International Association Management from Solvay Business School, Brussels.

Get in touch if you would like to hear more about our leadership activities at AAE or if you would like me to put you in touch with a trusted advisor or another executive director with experience of a particular issue. 
 

: https://www.associationexecutives.org/
: cecilia-spoor-a30956

Damian Hutt FIEM

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.

I have over 35 years experience in conferences and events, with 21 specifically supporting associations with their events, publishing, member engagement, and association management. I have headed up the AAE since its beginnings in 2006.

I would love to hear about what you feel we ought to be doing to support you as association executives, and how we can improve our current offering. If you have something to contribute, please get in touch with me.
 

: https://www.associationexecutives.org/
: damianhutt
: @DamianHutt