MEET… ALESSANDRA DAMANT, THE NEW IAPCO CO-OPTED COUNCIL MEMBER

MEET… ALESSANDRA DAMANT, THE NEW IAPCO CO-OPTED COUNCIL MEMBER

Alessandra is based in Australia where she is the National Conference Organising team leader at Arinex. She was selected to be the next generation co-opted Council Member. Only days after her selection, she remotely attended her first Council meeting. We asked her a few questions on this occasion.

What do you like most in your job? I enjoy having the ability to make every conference unique and provide a positive delegate experience that lives well beyond the event.

Strangest work moment? When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit and most of my virtual onsite team was based in another State in Australia 1000 kms away. It was very strange not being able to be physically on the ground with the Arinex team.

What made you apply to join the Council? I wanted to contribute and network with global PCO’s, to see how they operate worldwide and grow from these learnings and relationships.

What are your goals joining the Council?I want to have an active role in helping shape our industryfor future generations. Our industry is evolving rapidly as aresult of COVID-19 and it would be fantastic to be a part ofand contribute to positive advancements and change in theconference and events sector.

How do you see our industry developing?Accessibility is going to be a key focus for PCO’s with thepandemic having opened up to once untapped audiences bygoing virtual. I think there will be a lot more pressure to ensurewider diversity and to be fully accessible to delegates whomay have been denied the opportunity in the past. This mightbe via hybrid formats or sourcing delegate sponsorship andgrants to enable more inclusion. Inclusion, along with more amore sustainable approach to events will be fully embraced.

What are you looking forward to in 2022? Being able to travel safely within Australia and the world anytime I want.

Any sustainability tips that you would like to share with us? Control what you can: choose venues and suppliers with the best sustainability practices and think about sustainability in every conference element starting with client objectives all the way through to event delivery.