Business Events Australia Becomes IAPCO Destination Partner, Expanding Strategic Collaboration

Business Events Australia has been appointed as the newest Destination Partner of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO), formalising a broader strategic collaboration that extends beyond destination promotion to encompass sustainability, professional education and the long-term development of the global meetings industry.

The two-year agreement will strengthen Business Events Australia's engagement with IAPCO's international network of accredited Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs), creating a framework for knowledge exchange, educational initiatives, destination-focused content and closer collaboration with international association decision-makers. At the same time, the partnership provides Australia with an expanded platform to demonstrate its capabilities as a destination for international association conferences and business events.

The announcement also builds on an existing relationship between the two organisations. Business Events Australia will continue supporting the IAPCO Sustainability Programme—launched in October 2025—with its commitment now extending into the programme's second and third years alongside the new Destination Partnership.

Rather than representing a standalone sponsorship, the agreement reflects an evolving strategic relationship centred on responsible event delivery, professional development and industry advocacy. It also reinforces Business Events Australia's long-standing commitment to supporting IAPCO's sustainability agenda and contributing to the future of responsible business events globally.

Among the milestones already delivered through the Sustainability Programme are the launch of IAPCO's Sustainability Strategy, the presentation of the inaugural IAPCO Sustainability Award—supported by Business Events Australia during the 2026 Annual Meeting & General Assembly in Athens, and the development of the IAPCO Sustainability Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help professional congress organisers integrate environmental and social responsibility into every stage of event delivery.

Sissi Lignou, President of IAPCO, believes the agreement represents a natural evolution of an already well-established relationship. “Business Events Australia’s appointment as an IAPCO Destination Partner reflects the strength of our collaboration and a shared commitment to shaping the future of the meetings industry.
 

“This is a partnership built on shared values and long-term purpose. By bringing together destination expertise, education and sustainability leadership, we are creating meaningful value for our members and contributing to the continued development of the global meetings industry.

“Business Events Australia has demonstrated a clear commitment to working with IAPCO to advance our sustainability objectives, while also creating opportunities for our accredited PCO community to engage with Australia’s exceptional business events offering.”

For Tourism Australia, the expanded partnership represents an opportunity to deepen engagement with one of the meetings industry's most influential global communities while showcasing the country's diverse business events offering.

Sally Cope, Executive General Manager Industry and Business Events at Tourism Australia, said: “We are thrilled to be strengthening our relationship with IAPCO by becoming a Destination Partner, enabling us to showcase Australia’s exceptional business event capabilities through targeted content and educational programmes.

“Building on the strong foundation of our Sustainability Partnership, this broader collaboration gives us a valuable platform to engage with IAPCO's global network and ensures Australia's diverse destinations and business events experiences are top-of-mind for PCOs around the world.”

As the partnership moves forward, Business Events Australia will work directly with IAPCO's international membership through destination insights, educational content and collaborative initiatives designed to showcase Australia's expertise while supporting more sustainable and impactful conference delivery.
 

For IAPCO, the collaboration also reinforces its wider strategic agenda. Alongside its pillars of Community, Education and Advocacy, the association continues to position sustainability, legacy and professional excellence at the heart of the future evolution of the global meetings industry.
 

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