This year for the first time the Association Programme at IBTM World Barcelona has been created with the support of the four main global organisations for association professionals: European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE), and Asia-Pacific Federation of Association Organizations (APFAO), as well as the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

The afternoon will follow three core themes: inspire, exchange and solve, designed to spark fresh ideas, encourage peer to peer learning and sharing of best practice, and deliver solutions to real issues facing the associations and events sector. The programme includes case studies, speeches and panel sessions from leading organisations in the association sector.

There will also be a keynote presentation by the Deputy to the Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 at United Nations, Dr Martin Frick. He will present a talk titled: ‘UN Food Systems Summit 2021: Driving systemic and sustainable change’, where he will investigate the legacy and key learnings from this unique event taking place in New York in September.

In addition, ‘The Presidents Talk’ will bring together the four presidents of the ESAE, AfSAE, APFAO and ASAE: Mike Morrissey (ESAE), Jeffers Miruka (AfSAE), Octavio ‘Bobby’ Peralta (APFAO), and Michelle Mason (ASAE), for a discussion on their COVID learnings and future challenges. This will continue with association leaders from around the world sharing a peer-to-peer exchange of good practice, with a focus on two types of association: trade and professional societies.

The day will close with association experts presenting solutions on four key topics: Technology, Facilitation, Pricing and Legacy. Split into two sessions, speakers include association leaders Senthil Gopinath (ICCA), Zena Burgess (APS), Alessandro Cortese (ESTRO / AIP), Chloé Menhinick (ICA / Gaining Edge), Lynda J. Patterson (AMPED), Jane Cunningham (Best Cities Global Alliance) and Charlie Villasenor (PASIA).

IBTM World Barcelona is due to take place in-person this year at Fira, Barcelona, from 30 November to 2 December 2021. The Association Programme is scheduled for the first day of the event.