IAPCO Announces New Council at AM&GA 2026 in Athens

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) has announced its new Council during the Annual Meeting & General Assembly (AM&GA) 2026, held in Athens.

Jason Yeh, GIS Group, Taiwan, was elected President-Elect by IAPCO members at the General Assembly. He will serve a one-year term before assuming the Presidency at the AM&GA in 2027.

Ginerva De Bellis, Oic Group, Italy; Benoit Dubuisson, Downtown Europe, Belgium; and Jessica Ferguson, Arinex, Australia, have been confirmed as new Council members, nominated from within the membership. In addition, Giulia Sarri, AIM Group International, Italy, was ratified by Council to replace Nicola Testai.

They will join the current Council members: Sissi Lignou (President), AFEA Congress, Greece; Jason Yeh (President-Elect), GIS Group, Taiwan; Jimena Ruiz, Business Travel Consulting, Mexico; Stephen Noble, The Conference Company, Australia/New Zealand; and Ajay Bhojwani, MCI Middle East, UAE.

Co-opted members include Alexandros Terzis, (Emerging Leader Committee Chair) ERA Congresses and Events, Greece, and Amit Saroj, IA Meetings, Singapore and India (AM&GA 2027 Host).
 

President Sissi Lignou will continue in her role for another year, after which she will transition to Immediate Past President for a one-year term.

IAPCO also recognised and thanked outgoing Council members Limor Cunia and Ellen Franck, with special acknowledgement given to Sarah Markey-Hamm, who has served on Council for eight years in several roles, most recently as Immediate Past President and Chair of the Quality Committee.

Lignou said: “Volunteering for Council is a huge commitment that requires time, energy and a can-do spirit, which all have given in abundance. Without such volunteer Council members, IAPCO would quite simply not be able to do such vast and important work for our members.

“Thank you to Sarah, who has dedicated many years to IAPCO. Many initiatives she started will have a enduring legacy for IAPCO,” said Lignou.

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