Association professionals will gather in Frankfurt to discuss 'purpose-driven' leadership, artificial intelligence and the future role of events in a fast-changing landscape.
Association Focus, organised in collaboration with ASAE, will take place on May 18, at Kap Europa Convention Center, ahead of IMEX Frankfurt, May 19–21.
Sofya Abramchuk will deliver a keynote examining how associations can revisit their founding purpose to strengthen member relationships and support growth. A second keynote from Toby Bassford will focus on AI and the future of work, exploring how emerging tools may help organisations improve efficiency and enable staff to focus on higher-value activities.
The agenda is divided into two parallel tracks aimed at different professional roles.
The leadership track, hosted by Michelle Mason and Amy Hissrich, will examine how associations can use AI strategically. Sessions will address topics including member engagement and revenue diversification, as organizations respond to changing expectations and financial pressures.
A separate track for planners, curated by Martin Sirk, will focus on event design and stakeholder engagement, including a short-format segment highlighting recent innovations introduced by associations, as well as interactive sessions on networking and impact-led event planning.
These sessions will feature contributions from Bo Krüger, who will lead a discussion on networking practices, and Geneviève Leclerc, who will facilitate a workshop on identifying social impact opportunities within events.
According to organisers, the event aims to address ongoing challenges in the association sector, including member retention and engagement, while offering practical insights into how organizations can adapt to technological and societal change.
Association Focus will conclude with a networking social following the day’s sessions.
