Around 50 event management students were
given an insight into the esoteric world of associations as AC Forum – an
association of association executives mainly but not exclusively drawn from
the medical sector - met in Glasgow, Scotland, this week.
Students from the city attended a three-hour masterclass at SEC
(Scottish Events Campus) led by some of the international association community’s
leading lights, which illuminated pathways into the not-for-profit sector and
some of the challenges and rewards it offers.
The legacy initiative was backed by Glasgow Convention Bureau
and, should it prove successful, will provide a template for AC Forum to roll
out in other host cities, providing a valuable service not just for local students
but the association sector in general, which is often overlooked as a career
option for students graduating from event management degrees.
Speaking at the event were AC Forum president and EASL executive
director Ben Hainsworth, Wendy Holloway, CEO of ISUOG, Carola van der Hoeff,
COO, FIP, and Dr Lorraine Work, from the University of Glasgow, who organised
the Brain Conference in Glasgow, in 2022.
Each of the speakers gave insights into how they got into
association management – which included hard work, a willingness to try everything,
and a desire to have a purpose-driven career.
Self-belief was also highlighted as a must-have quality,
especially for women, although it was noted that a ‘gender flip’ in recent decades
has meant far more women occupying top positions.
Holloway said: “We have to be respectful of job descriptions,
but, for me I wanted to grab every opportunity. That’s what I did and that’s
why today, somehow, I’ve managed to fall into a chief executive position. But
it’s actually because I’m amazing at what I do!
“Over my entire career I have always believed in myself. I
have taken every opportunity to get my name and myself out there – not in an
egotistical way – but in a way that allows me to keep believing in my
organisation and what it’s trying to do.”
Hainsworth said purpose was what made working for an association
special.
“You’re working for people who are doing what they do for
some kind of societal, or healthcare or population need. And I can say to myself
at the end of the week or year that I have been working for something that has
a greater good. And that for me has always been important.”
Adele Mullan, a student of event management at the
University of the West of Scotland, said the masterclass had been eye-opening.
“I was aware of the association sector, because my interest
is in community events, but I kind of saw people at the top of those
organisations as a bit grand. So meeting them today has been really interesting
because you can see that they are still getting their hands dirty and involved.
“For me I need a sense of purpose, so it’s given me a lot to
think about.”
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.
