Industry association PCMA has announced its inaugural Convene 4 Climate (C4C) Advisory Board. The new body brings together 14 appointed and ex-officio members from the business events industry, alongside experts in climate science, finance, and conservation. The advisory board will help guide C4C’S next phase of growth and global impact.
The move marks a milestone in the evolution of C4C into a coordinated global movement focused on advancing sustainability and regeneration across the business events industry.
The Board will help shape C4C’s strategic direction and expand its global impact. Members will contribute market-specific insights, guide the development of localised sustainability strategies, and provide input into C4C programming, resources, and long-term platform development.
This next phase of growth is further strengthened by C4C’s foundational partners – Destination Canada, Fáilte Ireland, Marina Bay Sands, and United Airlines – all committed to reshaping the future of sustainable business events.
“The formation of the Advisory Board represents a pivotal step in scaling Convene 4 Climate’s ambition into meaningful global action,” said Sherrif Karamat, president & CEO, PCMA and CEMA. “Together with our foundational partners, we are uniting diverse expertise and regional perspectives to deliver practical, measurable solutions and drive transformative, industry-wide change.”
Advisory Board members include:
Kristen Averyt, American Geophysical Union
Meredith Beaujean, Marina Bay Sands
Sarah Beistel, Amazon
Tara Dalton, World Wildlife Fund
Elena Fis, Kenes Group
Tatiana Fittipaldi, The Institute of International Finance
Janice Lachance, American Geophysical Union
Kit Lykketoft, Wonderful Copenhagen & Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe
Greg Moore, United Airlines
Angose Philip, Department of Environment, Water, Energy, Natural Resources and Climate Change at the Vihiga County Government, Kenya
Dr. Stefan Rief, Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering
Katarina Thorstensson, Göteborg & Co
Advisors (ex officio):
Virginie De Visscher, Destination Canada
Paul Mockler, Fáilte Ireland.
In separate news, PCMA announced that Convening Leaders 2026 has earned the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Platinum Sustainable Event Standards Certification – the programme’s highest distinction.
“Earning Platinum certification for CL26 reflects PCMA’s continued commitment to advancing sustainability as a core principle of how we design and deliver experiences for the global business events community,” said Sherrif Karamat. This achievement demonstrates what’s possible when the global community comes together to lead with intention, accountability and a shared vision for a more sustainable future.”
The EIC Sustainable Event Standards were created through a global collaborative process with participation from subject matter experts in all sectors. They provide a framework for collaboration and a strong focus on guidance and metrics so that event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey have support to implement and measure sustainable practices.
The standards specify performance criteria in the areas of organisational management; marketing; communications and engagement; climate action; water management; materials and circularity; supply chain management; diversity, equity and inclusion; accessibility; and social impact. To date, more than 300 professionals have participated in the review of the standards.
