The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) will launch ACE – Accredited Conference Expert, the first individual accreditation for Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs), at IBTM World 2026.
Until now, IAPCO’s recognition has applied to companies. ACE is designed to give formal recognition to the knowledge and experience of the people working inside them. It was developed by experts from IAPCO-accredited PCO companies, and professionals earn it through an assessment process. The first stage, ACE 1, also carries Events Industry Council (EIC)-approved CMP learning credits.
Requirements:
- Completion of the IAPCO webEDGE Training Programme, earning a minimum of 20 CMP credits — including passing a 12-question assessment per module (75% pass rate required)
- A minimum of 4 years of industry experience (or 3 years within an IAPCO member organisation)
- Submission of a letter of motivation
The official launch takes place on Wednesday 18 November at 11:00 am (Barcelona time) at the IBTM World Media Centre. The speakers are:
- Sissi Lignou, President, IAPCO
- Martin Boyle, CEO, IAPCO
- Amy Calvert, President and CEO, Events Industry Council
They will explain the vision behind ACE and the value of IAPCO recognition for PCO professionals. They will also discuss how employers can invest in the professional development of their teams.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
