Meet the IFES Board

The following pages will show the personal

S trengthen our networking capabilities with reliable partner s worldwide will ensure a superior performance for outstanding results the year s to come!

Peter Theodorides President

“Motivation is wha t gets you s tarted – Commitment is wha t keeps you going.”

When I first learned wha t IFE S was all about, and that w as 13 years ago, I saw there w as some thing here that would help me both as an individual and as an owner of a company t o expand worldwide, and be able to understand my industry much better.

13 Year s later, I am honored as President of this association, and be able to say in all humbleness, that I am committed the next two year s to offer my best t o ensure that we keep growing al together and to maintain the s tability we have by focusing in three main pillars:

C ontinue being a worldwide association

B uild on enhancing colla bo rations among our member s

What is more, I believe that all o f us have hidden potentials that can only be seen if we find a meaning in wha t we do. Keeping this in mind, I intend to involve more members in decision making issues and allow them t o be part of the problem.

B y doing so, I will attempt c onstructing and preserving an en vironment which is meaningful. Connecting innovation to l ong-standing v alues can help us all link the new with the old and enhance the growth and s teadiness of IFES.

All in all, I would like to invite all members to get involved as much as possible in new and challenging projects, which al together we can accomplish. I t is important to realize that in order to excel as an association and to be able to perform innovation, there must be the support which I am willing to provide, and the cooperation tha t will help us overcome any ob stacles. My passion, as well as my devotion for this associa tion, make me stronger to reach out to wha t I w ant for all o f us – a win-win formula that

Voicu Sferdianu Past President

Commitment to IFES framework grew naturally from year to year adding substance and v alue with each A ssociation meeting.

Exchanging energy both w ays with IFES members, stakeholders and framework got me the t ools that plugged us into our unique Visions, Values and Roles in order to improve our effectiveness and find true fulfillment f or our companies in particular and the Exhibition Industry as a whole.

Commitment has paid off l ong time already, not only professionally but personally as well through solid friendships and engagements. And it keeps going.

Justin Hawes Vice President Finance/ Treasurer

My association with IFES has been infinitely rewarding and has enriched my career in the exhibition industry.

My advice to new and existing members is to get actively in volved in the A ssociation –the more one engages, the more one gets out.

I am a Chartered Acc ountant and this has enabled me to assist IFE S with its financial management, serving as its Treasurer f or the last seven year s.

Furthermore, I am the Managing Director of an African exhibition and events company and I am based in Johannesburg, South Africa. My company, Scan Display, has been a member of IFES for over 10 years. It was the Association’s first African member.

My involvement with IFES has gener ated substantial foreign business for my company, and I have enjoyed developing fruitful partner ships with other members over the year s. It has been in teresting to learn about the workings of the exhibition indus try in other countries. A s the only board member from a de veloping country, I understand the challenges faced by members from other developing c ountries, and I promote their in terests within the A ssociation.

Torsten Heinze Vice President Strategy

Hell o, as we say at Czarnowski! I am attending IFES meetings since 2007 and I can tell you that the whole dynamic has changed. S ince the former Board decided t o open IFES to individual member s, we have a totally differen t self-conception of our selves.

The IFES network plays an importan t role in our company’s o ffer to our clients: we are able t o offer projects everywhere, with the highes t available qualit y, a t the highest national safety and securit y level and respect for human rights under the Code of C onduct. I will do my utmost to c ontinue this path and grow IFES f or and with our fellow members and friends.

I t is inspiring to be part of the IFE S family. The global collaboration network, once an aspirational goal, is now a reality. The possibilities are limitless.

A s members of IFES, we can learn, grow and shape the future o f face-to-face marketing around the world. When we buil d a stand for an exhibition, it ’s temporary. But with IFES, the people we meet, and the knowledge and wisdom we gain, will last a lifetime. I truly belie ve, the theme of this issue o f WorldView, is the key to our fu ture success – “Engagement.”

John Pavek Vice President Marketing & Membership

I consider the opportunity I have been given to serve on the IFES Board both a privilege and an honor.

Cam Stevens Board Member Education Sharing Knowledge…

Education. I t is such an important word and can be such a huge differentiator in today’s world. Education can help communities climb out of poverty, it can help us excel and advance in our career s, and it can shape the very fabric of our lives. The quest f or new knowledge should be a life-l ong desire… and it should be unquenchable.

As an entrepreneur, Education is near and dear to my heart. With my past work at EDPA as VP of Education, my master’s degree specializing in Family B usiness Tr ansitions and entrepreneurship, and my present work with IFES working as Chair of Education, I am passionate abou t working to bring v alue to our members through education. Whe ther that is in the form of speaker content at a Global S ummit, a Masterclass containing relevant/current content, or how best to do business in a c ountry that you are unfamiliar with, my commitment to the organiza tion is to work to foster and develop content to help quench your appetite for educa tion.

I’m excited to see another year ahead of opportunity on the heels of a very successful Mas terclass program which took place in Ams terdam this past December My commitment to you is to work hard to continue t o explore new and exciting w ays of educating our members through Sharing Knowledge… in sustainability will attract new customers and secure the l oyalty of existing ones. These innovative approaches will open door s to new markets and new empl oyment opportunities. Most o f us don’t have time or knowledge to craft new sustainable approaches. IFES community is the right platform to brainstorm, execute and share. Our sustainablilty commitment is the guar antee to be a part of the exhibition market in the future. O ur motivation and success shoul d be shared with IFES number s and benefit us all.” the shows take us to Germany, bu t sometimes we go to Kazakhstan, Colombia or Vie tnam. It is essen tial to know people, build ne tworks and have connections gl obally, to offer our clients the best customer service and c onfidence. IFES is a wonderful pla tform to build your connections. We depend on our IFES partner s to meet the demands and challenges that the world brings.

Philippe Beille Board Member Sustainability

We are conscious that Sustainability is our new responsibility. We must integrate Sustainability within our core strategy. Let’s open bright and innovative horizons.

At first glance, it may look like a huge intellectual and financial eff ort. But innovative approaches

Ninni Arion Board Member Young IFES

My name is Ninni Arion and I come from the very north o f Finland.

O ur country might be small, ye t the companies here are very international. They go to shows around the world, and we offer our experience and help them to get the most ou t of their exhibition targets. Everyone who exhibits or organizes a show abroad knows, tha t there are a million little things to know, different w ays t o produce the stands and a ttract visit ors. Many times,

A ssociations in general, IFES especially, is a wonderful platform which helps me to stay tuned. Issues like sustainability and changes in technology will drive our group together as we can learn and grow together. Exhibition service providers can be seen as competitors, but we also share the same worries, and challenges. Together we can make the difference in the indus try, develop and invent new and smarter w ays to communicate and meet people in real life. Together we are powerful.

At YIFE S my personal interest and commitment is to engage the younger generations in the e vent industry. We have faced a problem with educational s ystems not supporting our indus try and some consider our f antastic work too demanding and hectic. My purpose is not only to bring new generations t o our industry, but also to c ommunicate wha t we do, wh y our work is meaningful for so man y people and economy.