FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
OUR MEETING INDUSTRY AND OUR PCO ROLE IS EVER-CHANGING Our meeting industry and our PCO role is ever-changing.
As our IAPCO President, Ori, has intimated in his Presidents’
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated not only technology
Message, the role of the PCO is ever-changing. It is important
adaptation but also the services we provide, the skills needed
to IAPCO and the community we serve that we continue to
and pretty much our everyday way of working.
drive professionalism in our industry at all levels and that this starts with quality training.
IAPCO Council and HQ Team are fully dedicated to ensuring that every activity we produce is for the benefit of our
Education and continued professional development (CPD)
members and our industry ecosystem.
of not only PCO’s, but of the entire meetings industry is continuing to prove vital in ensuring meeting professionals
At the end of 2019 we created a 5-year strategic plan for IAPCO
have the right knowledge and expertise to recommend what
and although our world has changed quite significantly since
is best for their clients and clients’ event participants.
then, this plan is still extremely relevant and being reviewed and optimized every quarter.
IAPCO continues to be recognized as a leader of quality education around the globe and the past few months is a clear
As part of that plan, we addressed how best to shape IAPCO
demonstration of this with EDGE Seminars being delivered in
for future years while addressing the needs of the next
China, Thailand, Malaysia and Mexico. Our calendar for the
generation and early career personnel of our PCO members.
remainder of 2021 through 2022 is already packed full of EDGE
IAPCO is now introducing the “Next Generation Council
seminars, industry presentations and webinars that call on
Member” - A new co-opted position on IAPCO Council.
IAPCO Faculty to deliver.
This person, once nominated and elected, will join Council
In addition, with the success of WebEDGE and as many have
to represent the next generation of PCO leadership and and
become accustomed to learning whilst in their home offices or
will be involved with many others to ensure that IAPCO
‘on to go’, IAPCO will be publishing new content on WebEDGE
Council is on the right track to provide relevant, timely and
2.0 this month. The Congress Project Management course,
appropriate programmes to meet the long-term needs
released in April of last year, delivered 14 modules of in-depth
of this important group.
content. WebEDGE 2.0 will see updated content relevant to meet the ever-changing needs of delivering virtual and hybrid
We are looking for an IAPCO Member who is a team player,
events solutions.
passionate about our industry, passionate about IAPCO, innovative and creative, and willing to invest back into
Young and veteran leaders alike, need to stay on top of the
our community.
latest technologies, trends and business models in order to deliver quality products and services that go above and
I am confident there are many young leaders that are
beyond what is expected every day.
already impacting positively in our future through their everyday work and I invite them to consider taking a
We trust you will find this edition of The PCO which focusses
more active role in IAPCO.
on education and CPD interesting and useful as you continue to drive your own professionalism and knowledge.
Yours,
Sincerely,
Ori
Martin
Ori Lahav, President 2020-2023
Martin Boyle, CEO
4
| September 2021
