Core Values. Michel Neijmann, Managing Partner, K2 Conference & Event Management Co., Istanbul, Turkey, is the new President of IAPCO, to take effect as of 1 April. “This is an extremely exciting chapter in my career” says Michel, “and I am making it my remit to uphold the quality and educational pillars of IAPCO. My guiding principles will be the 10-year Strategic Plan to which IAPCO adheres, at all times looking to IAPCO’s Core Values and Long-Term Goals.
“Under the terms of the previous President, exciting innovations have been introduced into the programme of IAPCO: The Albert Cronheim Scholarship, The IAPCO Innovation Award for PCOs, the IAPCO Ambassador Programme, the Meetings MasterClass to name just a few. I intend to continue in this programme of development whilst at all times maintaining our quality standing in the industry”.
Other current appointments include Jan Tonkin, Managing Director of The Conference Company, New Zealand, is now Vice President of IAPCO; Sumaira Isaacs, Chief Operations Officer, MCI, for India, Middle East and Africa. Philippe Fournier, MCI France, and Sarah Markey-Hamm, ICMS Australia, step down, their terms of office having ended.
After some years of temporary assignments at congresses, Michel started his professional career in the meetings and exhibition industry with a part-time involvement in the European Society of Cardiology in 1989. Following his graduation from University, Michel joined Congrex in 1997 where he was involved in the organisation of many international congresses. Changing perspective, he decided to focus on a postgraduate in journalism in 2003. Returning to the industry later that year, new appointments took him from Istanbul to AIM Group in Rome and, in 2010, to return to Istanbul as a Managing Partner of K2. Michel has been a member of the IAPCO Training Academy since 2006.
