Several leaders from major medical associations are among
the business events professionals appointed to PCMA’s newly formed European
Advisory Board, reflecting the significant role association congresses play in
the region’s meetings industry.
The board brings together senior figures from
associations, convention bureaux, venues, agencies and global organisations to
help shape PCMA’s strategy, growth and impact across Europe.
Among the new members are Monica Freire, COO of the
European Society of Endodontology; Kim Smeets, senior congress manager at the
European Society of Cardiology; and Helen van Oers, executive director of the
International Society of Endocrinology. Other new members include Sam
Johnston of Dublin Convention Bureau, Patrick Keller of Messe München, Sophie
Morris of Worldspan Ltd, Christina Petrova of Gartner, Steven Small of Informa
and Stephane Teboul, Co-Founder of bnetwork.
They join returning members including Eszter Aszody
Mattiassich of Siemens Healthineers, Malin Erlandsson of Svenska Mässan, Monica
Garcia of Barcelona Convention Bureau, Clare Melton of Claremont Corporate
Events Consulting, Jack Owens of Horizons DMC by Tour Partner Group, Ulrike
Tondorf of Bayer, Eveline van der Pluijm-Degenhart of Rotterdam Partners and
Kathleen Warden of K Warden Ltd.
The appointments form part of an evolution in PCMA’s
approach to the EMEA region.
The association is establishing a dedicated
European Advisory Board while developing distinct strategies and advisory
groups for the Middle East and Africa. The three regions will remain connected
through PCMA’s overarching EMEA strategy, while allowing greater focus on their
individual markets.
“The world is changing faster than any of us can fully
track, and the organizations that get ahead are the ones that can be deeply
local while staying connected to something bigger,” said Sherrif Karamat,
CAE, President and CEO of PCMA and CEMA. “That is exactly the combination
this Advisory Board gives us in Europe — leaders who understand their markets
from the inside, backed by the reach and perspective of a truly global
community.”
The European Advisory Board will meet for the first time in
Lisbon ahead of Convening EMEA, 13–15 September 2026, where members will
take part in a dedicated workshop focused on PCMA’s future direction and
priorities in Europe.
The board will provide market intelligence on emerging
trends, growth opportunities and challenges facing the European business events
community, while helping PCMA strengthen connections across markets and ensure
its education, experiences and community remain relevant to professionals
across the region.
“Europe is not one market, and our approach to the region has to reflect that,” said Jaimé Bennett, managing director EMEA. “This next chapter is about being far more intentional in how we grow across the region.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
