FIEXPO and IAPCO launch Jorge Castex Scholarship Programme for Latin America

The programme was announced during the IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly (AM&GA), held in February in Athens. The association used the occasion to reaffirm talent development and leadership training as strategic priorities for the sector.

 

Developed in partnership with FIEXPO, the scholarship extends IAPCO’s structured approach to leadership recognition into Latin America and the Caribbean. The region has gained increasing relevance within the global meetings ecosystem, both in terms of hosting international congresses and contributing to sector expertise.

 

The programme is named after Jorge Castex, a key figure in the development of the meetings industry in Latin America. Recognised internationally for his work in professional congress organisation, Castex played a central role in advancing standards and education in the region. He served as President of IAPCO, Director of the IAPCO Training Academy, and Honorary President of the Latin American Confederation of Professional Congress Organisers (COCAL). His contribution to the global meetings industry was acknowledged with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) Award.

 

The initiative also reflects a broader strategic shift within IAPCO. The association has recently adopted the term “Emerging Leaders” in place of “Next Generation”, signalling a change in how leadership is understood. Rather than positioning leadership as a future responsibility, the new framework recognises it as an active role already exercised within organisations.

 

Through this programme, selected participants will gain access to training, mentorship, and international exposure. The aim is to support professional development while strengthening regional capacity in the organisation and management of international meetings and congresses.

 

For Latin America and the Caribbean, the programme introduces a more structured pathway into global industry networks. It also reinforces the role of education and peer exchange in building long-term sector resilience.

 

As associations and organisers face increasing complexity, from governance expectations to sustainability requirements, initiatives focused on leadership development are becoming more central to the industry’s evolution. The Jorge Castex Scholarship Programme positions the region within this wider shift, linking local talent to global standards and opportunities.

 

  

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