Associations World Congress
March 2019
13
Looking ahead to the Associations
World Congress & Expo
The AAE’s flagship event is heading to Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2019
he next Associations World
Congress & Expo on 7-9
April 2019, organised by the
Association of Association
Executives (AAE) is in Gothenburg,
Sweden’s second city, which boasts its own
archipelago of 20 islands, stretching along
the coast like a string of pearls.
The Congress has a new and progressive
programme which embraces the importance
of educating association leaders, association
events strategists and other roles, with
extensive and concentrated learning at the
heart of the congress, whilst retaining an
enjoyable programme.
AAE have arranged two globally
renowned Swedish organisation to keynote:
The Nobel Organisation with their head
Laura Sprechmann; and Volvo with their
senior vice president Paul Welander.
It’s challenging to bring fresh ideas
to each event but the AAE has entirely
transformed the format and delivery of
this congress, morphing from a traditional
approach of streams and traditional
presentations to hour-long themed
segments throughout each day, during
which delegates can choose between one
of the six parallel sessions. There are many
different formats including the new ‘Crash
Course’ and ‘Camp Fire’. The new style of
programming provides more flexibility for
delegates to choose and jump around –
essential, if like many association executives
you are responsible for multiple functions.
The AAE has created an environment
that stimulates interaction and cultivates
learning.
For Association Leaders and Event
Strategists, over the two main days, the
Association Events Strategy Forum and
Association Leaders’ Forum are parts of
the programme exclusively for delegates
with those responsibilities.
The introduction of an Events Strategy
Forum at the congress was instigated
by Damian Hutt (pictured), executive
director at AAE following the successful
one-day Events Strategy Conferences held
in London by the AAE in July over the
last three years. Lorraine Reese, head of
conferences & events at the Biochemical
Society talking about that conference said:
“It was a fantastic event with interesting,
inspiring presentations and excellent
conversations with other association events
specialists.”
An exciting new initiative to this
congress is the issuing of a Certificate of
Education in Association Management.
AAE launched the certificate at the
inaugural Africa Associations Congress
in October last year. The idea came from
feedback from AAE members who wanted
formal recognition and record of the time
they spend learning at AAE seminars,
conferences, masterclasses and congresses.
So AAE have launched the certificates that
will be issued for up to 12 hours education
to all verified attendees of the congress.
Social activities include two drinks
receptions, hosted dinners and the
Congress & Awards Dinner held at
Kajskjul8 (Cauldron 8), a transformed quay
building from 1885, renowned for its great
global cooking with local produce in the
middle of the Port of Gothenburg.
You can find out more at
www.associationsworldcongress.com