The role of local partnerships in international conferences

Practices for building successful partnerships with local governments and stakeholders for your event

Delivering a successful international conference is a landmark achievement for any association, offering a unique opportunity to advance industry objectives, foster global collaboration, and elevate the association’s profile on the international stage. Central to this success is the strategic engagement with the host government and local stakeholders, whose support can unlock significant advantages—from securing the participation of high-level officials to attracting key sponsorships—leaving a lasting impact that resonates far beyond the conference itself.

In this seminar, the International Hydropower Association (IHA) will share invaluable insights from the award-winning 2023 World Hydropower Congress (WHC) held in Bali, Indonesia. As the flagship event of the global hydropower community, WHC attracted over 1,000 participants and was recognised at the International & European Association Awards 2024 as the Best Long-standing Event.

Join us to learn about the critical strategies and innovative approaches that made WHC 2023 a resounding success. The session will explore the pivotal role of engaging with the host government to secure the attendance of high-level officials, including the President of Indonesia, which in turn attracted significant sponsorship and a diverse range of stakeholders essential to advancing sustainable hydropower.

Elena Perez, Head of Events and Engagement, and Elaine Tan, Regional Manager, Southeast Asia, at IHA, will share their experiences and key learnings on:

  • Building a partnership with the host government to ensure the attendance of the President and other high-level officials
  • Collaborating with a local or regional professional conference organiser and consultant to navigate the complexities of working with a large Asian government and local stakeholders
  • Creating and managing a National Steering Committee to secure local buy-in, in-kind support, and sponsorship
  • Additional unique elements that contributed to the success of WHC, such as selecting the ideal venue, developing a compelling visual identity, and more

Agenda 

12:00 - Introduction
12:05 - Presentation
12:35 - Questions & Answers
12:55 - Close

Speaker

Elena Perez

Elena Perez

Head of Events and Engagement, IHA

Find out more

Elaine Tan

Elaine Tan

Regional Manager, Southeast Asia, IHA

Find out more