The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has announced that association director Heather Lishman will be taking early retirement at the end of 2025, following 14 remarkable years of leadership.
Lishman will officially step down in December, following the annual ABPCO Excellence Awards, which will take place at Manchester Central in Manchester.
Lishman’s tenure has seen ABPCO grow and evolve into one of the most respected voices in the UK events industry.
Lishman said: “After 14 incredible years, I feel the time is right to allow new leadership to take ABPCO into its next exciting chapter.
She added: “It has been an honour to work alongside such passionate professionals and to support the growth and recognition of our industry.”
Under Lishman’s guidance, the association has overcome challenges and achieved unprecedented milestones, culminating in what is now officially its most successful year to date.
She leaves ABPCO in its strongest ever position—financially, operationally, and in terms of membership engagement and industry impact. Her legacy will be celebrated in the coming months culminating with the ABPCO Excellence Awards in December, where friends, colleagues, and industry leaders will gather to mark her extraordinary contribution to the events profession.
Pauline Beattie, ABPCO co-chair said: “Heather has been a true force for good in our industry. Her commitment, leadership, and unwavering positivity have helped shape the ABPCO of today. While we are very sad to see her go, we are incredibly grateful for the rock-solid foundation she has built and the legacy she leaves behind.”
Looking ahead, the ABPCO Executive will commence a formal recruitment process to appoint a new Executive Director to lead the association into the future.
This process will officially begin in July, with the support of an experienced third-party recruitment specialist.
With a robust and focused executive team in place and Heather’s continued support during this transition period, ABPCO would like to reassure its members, partners, and sponsors that it is very much business as usual at the association.
Kate Sargent, association treasurer and executive board member said: “We want to reassure our members, sponsors and stakeholders in the industry at large that this process will be conducted with the highest level of transparency and integrity.”
She added: “We will be adhering to a clearly defined framework, as outlined in our Articles of Association, to ensure fairness and accountability throughout.”
For more information about ABPCO and updates regarding the Excellence Awards and the leadership transition, please visit www.abpco.org.
