IFES Shows with Hybrid AGM that Live Communication is Possible

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9th Jul, 2020
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In mid-March it became clear at the latest that a 3-day annual meeting with about 200 guests in Amsterdam at the end of June would not be possible, so the meeting in Amsterdam was postponed to 2021. "Postponed" - has been the personal motto of the year of IFES Managing Director Uta Goretzky ever since.

Nevertheless, according to Belgian law, the need for an annual meeting remained in the first half of the year. In an industry that is known for "face 2 face", "making" and "travel", it was soon clear that the regulations should not be fulfilled online alone.

Therefore the IFES decided to use the Hybr.id Space of the companies Holtmann Messe + Event, deutschewerbewelt and ICT for its annual conference. The space offers the perfect combination of stage, showcase area and stream.

With 40 physical participants and over 100 online, the annual conference has at least reached the same number of participants as the previous meetings.

Han Leenhouts led the programme in a confident and entertaining manner, which began with a lively panel discussion on the reopening of trade fairs after the COVID19 ban with Barbara Weizsäcker (EMECA), Jörn Holtmeier (AUMA), Kai Hattendorf (ufi) , Dr. Andreas Gruchow (Dt Messe AG) and Nils Passoter (Weidmüller GmbH & Co KG,).

Even though the global economic dynamics make it more and more difficult to make statements about the future development, IFES presents the planned projects for the future: Best of Events, Exhibitor Live, World Summit Amsterdam 2021, ExpoDubai.

Following the IFES regulations, the election of the new chairman was due. And IFES elected the first African president Justin Hawes, who is active in several South African countries with his company Scan Display. Hawes was the first person from a developing country when he was elected to the IFES Board as Treasurer in 2013. He has been one of the 3 vice presidents of the association since 2015.

Hawes attended the General Assembly last week via Zoom from his office in Rosebank, Johannesburg, from where he will present his vision for IFES in 2021/2022. The industry is facing challenging times and it is important that IFES continues to maintain its relevance and provide support to its members. Hawes concludes: "I am grateful to the members for giving me the confidence to lead the association in this critical phase".

Hawes will take over the baton on 1 January 2021 from Peter Theodorides, who has developed IFES under the idea of "Sharing knowledge" as a business and knowledge exchange platform, so that every member association and member company has the opportunity for multilateral contacts and networking at all times.

Steve van Damme, Managing Director of Publiganda from Belgium, was elected Treasurer, John Pavek (Exhibitor Media Group) for Marketing and Membership and Ninni Arion who will present the IFES Talent Team project in the Vostand.

At the end of the year, after 12 years on the Board, of which 4 years as President and 2 years as Past President Voicu Sferdianu leaves the Board. He was the one who steered the association into calm waters after turbulent years and thus created the conditions for IFES to succeed in its "journey on sight" in the Corona crisis so far.

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