AIPC announces Future Shapers 2025 | The Planner

AIPC has announced the names of the 14 successful applicants for its 2025 AIPC Future Shapers programme, which commences next month. The list of candidates includes two South Africans (see below).

AIPC Future Shapers is a seven-month accelerated leadership course that is aimed at propelling the industry’s developing leaders to the next level in their careers. Through a series of masterclasses, ideation and business case development skills, the programme gives candidates the opportunity to promote their solutions to challenges currently faced by convention centre managers.

AIPC Chairman, Greg O’Dell said this year’s participants were in for another blockbuster programme that would bolster the industry and its members.

“Now in its fourth year, AIPC’s Future Shapers delivers a winning formula for preparing high achievers to grow their skills, build resilience and help shape the future of our industry.

“I know this year’s students will again embrace the programme and impress venue management leaders across the globe and I can’t wait to see what they deliver on stage during the 2025 AIPC Conference at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center next June,” said O’Dell.

AIPC CEO, Sven Bossu said he was looking forward to supporting the next generation of CEOs to think and act like leaders over the seven-month course.

“AIPC Future Shapers is an interactive roadmap towards excellence in convention centre management, requiring intense commitment and engagement of the participants, and in return, the candidates not only accelerate their leadership capabilities, they build a new global network of peers while being provided the opportunity to help shape the future of the AIPC Community.

“Each year we see benefits that continue to evolve into legacy solutions. Projects to improve client communication, streamline venue operations and enhance industry knowledge sharing and education are all at varying stages of implementation and we look forward to curating new outcomes with the year’s diverse and experienced cohort,” Bossu said.

 

The 14 candidates, their venues and roles are:

NameFunctionVenueCountry
Ariane HiltebrandDirector of Sales & MarketingMiami Beach Convention CenterUSA
Barbara BékésiMarketing Manager – Hosted eventsHUNGEXPOHungary
Benjamin BoudaudCulinary Services DirectorCairns Convention CentreAustralia
Dave YoungHead of ProductionICC BelfastIreland
Giorgio ArbisiEvent Services ManagerMassachusetts Convention CenterUSA
Hannah FranceManager, Research and Strategic InitiativesCalgary StampedeCanada
Isra Al RahbiEvents PlannerOman CECOman
Nalinie RajahAssistant Manager, PR & CommsKuala Lumpur Convention CentreMalaysia
Nosipho DinwaTraining and Development ManagerCape Town ICCSouth Africa
Rita RanJunior Manager, Research and Strategic InitiativesShenzhen WorldChina
Simon KongSenior AV Project ManagerTe PaeNew Zealand
Sondie QamataBanqueting and Back of House ManagerCape Town ICCSouth Africa
Travis HenrySenior Manager AV Production ServicesICC SydneyAustralia
Lugdivine DumontInternational Sales ManagerViparisFrance

 

The Future Shapers programme comprises three main components:

Stage One – Masterclasses: Five expert-led masterclasses for education and collaboration.

Stage Two – Industry Challenge: small groups will collectively identify an industry challenge, create a proposed solution, and develop a business case for investment, which will be detailed in a white paper and published to the AIPC community.

Stage 3 – Challenge Presentation: following a two-day on-site masterclass on refining the project and its pitch, groups will present their ideas to an audience of global leaders during the AIPC Annual Conference at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Conference Center, which takes place June 22-25, 2025.

 

Image caption: The Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center, the host venue for the 2025 AIPC Conference taking place in June next year. Image via AIPC.

 

Read more: AIPC CEO Sven Bossu and the Future Shapers programme are global award finalists