Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO, Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) & Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), has announced a new PCMA European Advisory Board, designed to reflect an evolution in PCMA’s approach to the EMEA region. The association has moved to set up a dedicated European Advisory Board while developing distinct strategies and advisory groups for the Middle East and Africa. The association says all three structures will remain connected through an overarching EMEA strategy, allowing for greater focus on the needs and opportunities within each market.
“The world is changing faster than any of us can fully track, and the organisations that get ahead are the ones that can be deeply local while staying connected to something bigger,” said Karamat. “That is exactly the combination this Advisory Board gives us in Europe – leaders who understand their markets from the inside, backed by the reach and perspective of a truly global community. Right now, that combination isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.”
The European Advisory Board will come together for the first time in Lisbon ahead of Convening EMEA, 13–15 September 2026, where members will collaborate in a dedicated workshop focused on the future direction and priorities for PCMA in Europe.
The following leaders enter the first of a two-year term (2026–2028):
Monica Freire, COO, European Society of Endodontology
Sam Johnston, manager, Dublin Convention Bureau
Patrick Keller, director sales – Locations of Messe München, Messe München GmbH
Sophie Morris, managing director, Worldspan Ltd
Christina Petrova, senior global event manager, Gartner
Steven Small, vice-president – Air Transport Events, Informa
Kim Smeets, senior congress manager, European Society of Cardiology
Stephane Teboul, co-founder, bnetwork
Helen van Oers, executive director, International Society of Endocrinology
The following leaders are returning for an extended term of up to two years:
Eszter Aszody Mattiassich, head of global events, Siemens Healthineers
Malin Erlandsson, director of sales, Svenska Mässan
Monica Garcia, association meetings manager, Barcelona Convention Bureau
Clare Melton, founder, Claremont Corporate Events Consulting
Jack Owens, head of sales, Horizons DMC by Tour Partner Group
Ulrike Tondorf, brand activation & engagement lead, Bayer
Eveline van der Pluijm-Degenhart, manager Convention Bureau, Rotterdam Partners
Kathleen Warden, owner, K Warden Ltd
Global Board Liaison: Stephen Rose, senior vice-president, head of global communication services, Siemens
Staff Liaison: Jaimé Bennett, managing director, EMEA, PCMA
The European Advisory Board’s brief is to provide PCMA with market intelligence and insights into emerging trends, growth opportunities and challenges affecting the European business events community.
“Europe is not one market, and our approach to the region has to reflect that,” said Jaimé Bennett, managing director, EMEA. “This Advisory Board brings together an incredible breadth of experience, influence and perspective from across our business events community, and their role is far from simply offering advice. We’ve listened carefully to what our community has told us, and this next chapter is about being far more intentional in how we grow across the region. Together, we have the opportunity to build a PCMA in Europe that is locally relevant, globally connected and shaped by the people and markets we serve, while we develop distinct strategies for the Middle East and Africa that recognise the unique opportunities within those markets.”
