Unlock the full potential of cultural awareness for your global membership
In today’s digital age, nearly every association can claim to have a global presence. But are you truly maximizing your reach and engagement with international audiences? Is global engagement something you're prepared for—or even interested in? While many industries seamlessly operate across borders, associations often struggle to attract and maintain the same level of involvement in different countries. The reasons for this are complex, ranging from political and cultural differences to geographic and infrastructural challenges. Without a well-thought-out strategy, fostering engagement and building a thriving global community can be difficult.
Join James Whitaker, Senior Manager for Student and Young Professional Initiatives at SPE International, as he shares insights from his 10+ years of experience in building initiatives that prioritize international engagement. Under James’ leadership, SPE has transformed from a predominantly US-centric organization into a truly global community.
Why attend this seminar?
This session aims to increase awareness of the risks and rewards of operating more globally, to help your association plan for more international engagement. Discover actionable strategies for expanding your association’s reach and ensuring lasting global impact. We will cover topics such as:
12:00 - Introduction
12:05 - Presentation
12:35 - Questions & Answers
12:55 - Close
Senior Young Member Programs Manager, Society of Petroleum Engineers - Europe Office
Senior Young Member Programs Manager, Society of Petroleum Engineers - Europe Office
James Whitaker works as the Senior Manager for Student and YP programmes at a global non-profit association, The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). This focuses on developing and maintaining professional and soft skill development events and resources for over 55% of their 110,000 members. James currently manages a small team to support University level students and Young Professionals to enhance their career, as well as developing membership strategies to support this ever-changing demographic.
His work focuses on creating, hosting and maintaining events, recognition programmes, and engagement programmes to support career growth in young members around the world. This is achieved by working closely with volunteers, membership committees, and senior leadership. James also supports soft skills and training programmes for wider membership demographics, and supports Board Level and society wide strategies, providing data and plans to improve overall membership engagement.
James studied Philosophy at the University of Wales, focusing on environmental responsibility and logic. This has led to taking a systematic approach to tackling large complex problems, and finding creative solutions, working closely with internal and external parties to achieve his goals in an ethical and adaptive approach.
James has an international mindset, but is based in Kent, United Kingdom. He has passion for mentorship and encouraging others, and is always on the lookout for new and creative ideas.