Nina Freysen-Pretorius
Nina Freysen-Pretorius was elected as president of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) at the association’s Annual General Assembly in Antalya, Turkey last night.
South African Freysen-Pretorius, owner of Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg based The Conference Company, has been second vice-president of ICCA since October 2010. She is the immediate past president of the Southern African Association of the Conference Industry (SAACI).
She says her election as president of ICCA is truly an honour. “Over the years I have come to understand how ICCA works, why it works and what it takes to make it work. I am committed to ICCA and to the president’s position. I am also lucky enough to have the support of my country, South Africa, with our national convention bureau confirming that it would support a secretariat.
“Having worked internationally with so many ICCA members across the world, I believe I understand the challenges of the industry. ICCA and the conference industry are entering a new phase of innovation and growth. The organisation needs a president who can build on the successes of recent ICCA leaders, who can think strategically, inspire excellence and provide insight into the challenges of its members.
“My first objective will be to ensure that ICCA continues to remain relevant and provides membership benefits at regional and chapter level. These benefits may mean different things in different parts of the world and we have to be in a position to respond accordingly. And with an increasing number of ICCA offices, there is now more need than ever to make sure that membership increases.”
ICCA represents the main specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events, and comprises almost 1 000 member companies and organisations in over 90 countries worldwide. It specialises in the international association meetings sector, offering unrivalled data, communication channels, and business development opportunities.
