IAPCO Launches New Taskforce on Wellbeing and Member Connection

IAPCO and the 14 National PCO Association members of the IAPCO Strategic Association Task Force have combined forces to create a team of academic and scientific researchers, a first of its kind in our global congress and events industry, to gather data on employee and team member wellbeing and feelings towards work, connections to others and perceived belonging to the meetings industry.

The research team is backed by academics at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK and expert social scientists from across the globe. This unique research team combines specialised experience and training in adult mental health, team dynamics and academic research. They include experts in psychology, research, sports psychology and team dynamics, adult mental health and, of course, meetings and events industry professionals.

Martin Boyle (cover photo), CEO of IAPCO stated: "This team of researchers and academics has been in the making for several months and is a result of sentiments relayed to IAPCO to carry out such study both from the IAPCO member community and also from the wider global meetings and events industry.

"We have heard how workplace and team dynamics have shifted over the past couple of years as people returned to offices and to delivering in-person events, but we are lacking significant and accurate data on it from a global perspective. Without such data and specialist analysis of the data, we cannot begin to provide solutions.

"The analysis of responses gathered from the survey will not only help to form a clearer picture of factors influencing our workforce and what they are looking for from their employers and connections, but it will also, more importantly, help IAPCO and others in the industry to create educational, personal and professional programmes to support workforce development globally."

This is a milestone project that ties into IAPCO's ongoing support for talent in the global meetings industry and will drive a better understanding of what they can all do to generate a greater sense of belonging within the workforce and in turn help to shape the recruitment and retention of talent for years to come.

IAPCO aims to publish the results of the survey in Q1 2023.

Link to the survey can be found here