AIPC has announced 14 successful applicants for its 2025 AIPC Future Shapers programme, which commences next month. The 2025 AIPC Future Shapers programme, is a seven-month accelerated leadership course, which aims to propel the industry’s developing leaders to the next level in their careers, through a series of masterclasses, ideation and business case development skills and the opportunity to promote their solutions to challenges currently faced by convention centre managers.
AIPC chairman, Greg O’Dell said: “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 Conference Center next June.”
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.
AIPC is the International Association of Convention Centres. With members from over 60 countries, it is the industry body dedicated to professional convention and exhibition centre management.
The 14 candidates, their venues and roles are: Name Function Venue Country Ariane Hiltebrand Director of sales & marketing Miami Beach Convention Center USA Barbara Békési Marketing manager – hosted events HUNGEXPO Hungary Benjamin Boudaud Culinary services director Cairns Convention Centre Australia Dave Young Head of production ICC Belfast Ireland Giorgio Arbisi Event services manager Massachusetts Convention Center USA Hannah France Manager, research and strategic initiatives Calgary Stampede Canada Isra Al Rahbi Events planner Oman CEC Oman Nalinie Rajah Assistant manager, PR & comms Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Malaysia Nosipho Dinwa Training and development manager Cape Town ICC South Africa Rita Ran Junior manager, research and strategic initiatives Shenzhen World China Simon Kong Senior AV project manager Te Pae New Zealand Sondie Qamata Banqueting and back of house manager Cape Town ICC South Africa Travis Henry Senior manager AV production services ICC Sydney Australia Lugdivine Dumont International sales manager Viparis France
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 22–25 June, 2025.
