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Tatsuo Arai
CORPORATE OFFICER
JAPAN CONVENTION SERVICES (JCS) INC
Since joining Japan Convention Services (JCS) in 1977, Tatsuo has been involved in various activities such as meeting business, translation, temporary staffing, information technology, corporate planning, human resources and public relations. He has also been engaged in international business development including destination marketing and promotion as well as conference management and association management.
Tatsuo was a speaker/moderator in many sessions of ICCA, IAPCO and MPI. He also gave lectures at several educational seminars organized by Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) and convention bureaus in Japan.
Emma Aru
PRESIDENT
EGA WORLDWIDE CONGRESSES & EVENTS
Emma is considered the pioneer of the congress industry in Italy. She is involved in training and teaching at university level and has published several articles on congress organisation.
She actively participates in many professional associations and represents EGA in most international organisations. She is also involved in public relations' projects.
Gianluca Buongiorno
PRESIDENT
AIM GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Gianluca is President of AIM Group International with offices in: Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Florence, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Prague, Rome, Sofia, and Vienna.
He has been a key figure and driver to the international development and growth of AIM Group International. Additionally, Gianluca is closely working with the industry, engaging as former Vice President of Italcongressi and contributing internationally through his membership of several prestigious associations such as IAPCO and ICCA.
Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno
VICE PRESIDENT
AIM GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Patrizia is the Treasurer of INCON and Vice President of AIM Group International. Under her leadership, the company has consolidated its position in the domestic and international markets and is now one of the global players among PCOs. She is also a former President of IAPCO and a Member of the IAPCO Training Academy.
Lior Gelfand
CEO
ORTRA
Lior started his PCO career as a junior travel agent at ORTRA, following his father Zvi Gelfand (1922-2004), one of Israel's congress industry veterans. After years of managing ORTRA'S different operation departments, he stepped up to the role of CEO in 2002 and since then has been leading ORTRA to become Israel's top PCO and DMC with members of the ICCA. Lior is well involved in the Israeli tourism and MICE industry, acts as a board member and treasurer of ITTOA (Israel tour operators association) and a MICE industry advisor to various local governmental and cities bodies.
Claudia Golinelli
CEO
EGA WORLDWIDE CONGRESSES & EVENTS
CEO of EGA, Claudia Golinelli is responsible for the coordination of the most high-profile projects with Institutions and Public Administration. As Finance and Contracts Manager, she is also responsible for EGA’s contracts and the company’s financial-budgetary management.
At ‘Tor Vergata’ University of Rome, she is Professor of Tourism Economics and Management and is responsible of the School of Cultural Heritage in the Tourism Market. She is also Professor in Territorial Marketing at the School of Planning and Management of the Tourism Market. She is also professional accountant and auditor.
Inge Hanser
MANAGING DIRECTOR
CPO HANSER SERVICE
Inge is a founding partner and Managing Director of CPO HANSER SERVICE, the foremost professional conference organiser in Germany. She is also a former President of the International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO, 2002-2006). Together with her husband Hermann and their team, they have been handling conferences for up to over 15,000 delegates in Germany and worldwide for more than thirty years.
Cengiz Korkmaz
CEO
DEKON GROUP
Cengiz started his career as a part time registration employee after graduating from high school when he was 18 years old. Parallel to his further study at university and gaining his MBA, he worked as a Manager and a Group Sales Manager in different PCO’s. When he was 25 years old, he became Assistant General Manager of DEKON Congress & Tourism.
In 2004, at the age of 30, he became a successful example of a management buyout and has since then been leading and growing the company to become the DEKON Group of companies. He was also appointed as the Advisor to the President of the Turkish Association of Travel Companies in MICE related matters and he is a member of the Executive Board of the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center. He lectures at various universities in Istanbul and in his leisure time likes cooking, soccer, Formula 1 and travelling.
Carol McGury
EVP, EVENT AND EDUCATION SERVICES
SMITHBUCKLIN
Carol McGury leads the team that delivers powerful results to SmithBucklin’s client organizations through the creation and management of educational programming, conference design, business model development, marketing, technology, logistics, and trade show and sponsorship sales and fulfilment.
The team supports events in all sizes from 50 to over 30,000 attendees, builds and delivers strategy for international event expansion, continues to raise the bar on the attendee experience, and is recognized as one the most respected and engaged participants in the conference industry.
Roslyn McLeod OAM
MANAGING DIRECTOR
ARINEX PTY LTD
Roslyn McLeod is Founder/Chair of Arinex and Co-Chair of INCON. Roslyn is a well-known and respected figure in the Australian events industry and a leading authority on global congress management and is passing on the leadership of Arinex to new CEO Tamara Kavalec.
Roslyn is a past member of the Starwood Asia Pacific MICE Advisory Board 2004-2016, a past member of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) 2004–2014, a past President of the Rotary Club of Sydney and a past President of Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).
Roslyn was a council member of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) 2002-13, and has served on a number of boards over the past 25 years including the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau and the South Australian Tourism Commission.
In recognition of her significant contribution to the Australian tourism industry Roslyn was awarded the Order of Australia by the Australian Government. In 2018 she was recognised by the international meetings industry with an ICCA Top 10 Inspirational Women award.
Alejandro Ramírez Tabche
CEO
BTC
Alejandro Ramírez Tabche has been in the tourism industry for more than 25 years. Having graduated from the Faculty of Administration and Finances at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Alejandro has become one of the most prominent consultants for corporate events, professional conference organizer and innovative projects, such as the Aeromexico franchises.
He participates in a variety of tourist trade associations and is currently the President of PCO Meetings Mexico, an association that brings together leading meeting companies in the country.
Jurriaen Sleijster
PRESIDENT
MCI GROUP
Jurriaen Sleijster is President & COO of MCI. As a member of MCI’s Executive Committee, Jurriaen is jointly responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of an international group with offices around the world. Day-to-day, Jurriaen leads management processes, a range of service departments and the integration of new MCI offices.
As a member of MCI’s Executive Committee, Jurriaen is jointly responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of an international group with offices around the world. Jurriaen represents MCI in the meetings industry and is actively involved in a number of professional associations including the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and Meetings Professional International (MPI).