The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has revealed a 30% growth in its membership. The growth figure was announced at the association’s AGM, which was took place on 11 June, where the new leadership was also confirmed.
The AGM saw the election of two new co-chairs who bring a wealth of experience and new perspectives:
- Sammy Connell, NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union
- Pauline Beattie, Conference Care
The appointments follow the tenure of outgoing chairs Emma Duffy from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and Sarah Byrne from Mosaic Events.
The new co-chairs thanked Duffy and Byrne on behalf of all the membership. A joint statement read: “Their contributions have been instrumental in steering the association towards growth and increased influence within the industry. Their leadership has set a solid foundation for us to build on. We have huge shoes to fill but look forward to the next two years and the delivery of our plans to see ABPCO hit its 2027 goals.”
ABPCO has laid out a plan to further enhance its value and reach within the professional conference organising community. Key initiatives include:
- Membership Growth: Exploring target groups, honing the member value proposition, positioning, language, and messaging to achieve a target of 200 PCOs by 2027.
- Increase Segmentation: Working with existing members to target their sectors for new membership.
- External Voice: Expanding ABPCO’s reach with other partners, whilst maintaining ABPCO’s position as the go to thought leaders for association events.
- Voice of the PCO: Creating more opportunities for ABPCO and its members to be part of industry press and events.
- The Place to Go for CPD: Strengthening ABPCO’s position as the premier association for Continuing Professional Development, especially for PCOs.
- Academic and Student Engagement: Exploring more opportunities to connect with academics and students through events, guest lectures, and panel opportunities by ABPCO members.
At the AGM, Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director, said the growth in membership pointed towards a brighter future for the body. She told the membership: “Our significant membership growth and the strong leadership team we have in place are clear indicators of a bright future. We are excited to leverage our past successes and explore new opportunities for growth, innovation, and professional development.”
