PCMA Announces 2022 Global Meetings Executive of the Year Award Recipient


Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno Honored at IMEX Frankfurt Gala Dinner

CHICAGO, IL (June 2, 2022) – PCMA and CEMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat celebrated the achievements of Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno with the Global Meetings Executive of the Year award. The award is presented annually at the IMEX Frankfurt Gala Dinner.

Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno

Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno, Vice President, AIM Group International

Buongiorno is Vice President, AIM Group International, a company that for over sixty years has been one of the international leaders in events and conferences. She is also President of AIM Communication, an open innovation network specializing in communications for the healthcare sector.

The award recognizes a business events strategist who has demonstrated a vision, commitment and passion for the advancement and education of the global meetings industry.

“I am honored to present the 2022 Global Meetings Executive of the Year Award to a leader I truly admire and respect,” said Karamat. “Patrizia is a fearless leader with a drive for continued innovation and commitment to developing our next generation of industry leaders.”

Buongiorno is a 30-year veteran of the meetings industry and is recognized for her unwavering commitment to professional development. She teaches tourism management, event organization, green meetings, marketing and communications at several University Master’s Programs: University La Sapienza and LUISS University in Rome, IULM University in Milan, Business School of Sole24Ore (national economic daily newspaper) in Milan, Glion University in Swiss, Parma and Bicocca University.

In a volunteer role, Patrizia is Secretary General of FIMAC, the International Foundation Doctors for Central Africa, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the health conditions of people in Central Africa through cooperative humanitarian projects.

“I am honored to receive such an important recognition, especially in these challenging times,” said Buongiorno. “I really would like to thank all the AIM Group team and dedicate this award to them, because what I have been able to do as a leader was inspired by their commitment and creativity and implemented into our daily work practice by them. As event professionals we can be proud of having been able to navigate such stormy seas with courage and determination, giving new future perspectives to our industry.”

Past recipients of the Global Meetings Executive of the Year Award include:

  • 2019: Carola van der Hoeff, Chief Operating Officer and Congress Director at International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
  • 2018: Ben Goedegebuure, General Manager EMEA, Maritz Global Events
  • 2017: Roberta A. Kravitz, Executive Director, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • 2016: Janet Tan-Collis, Chief Executive of East West Planners Pte Ltd.
  • 2015: Pieter Swart CMP, CMM, Managing Director, Conference Consultancy South Africa (PTY)
  • 2014: Phelps R. Hope, CMP, Vice President, Meetings and Expositions, Kellen Meetings
  • 2013: David L. Williams, CMP, Executive Director, International Association for Energy Economics
  • 2012: Ping He, Director Global Sourcing and Partner Relations, Experient

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For media queries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA, and requests for interviews with Sherrif Karamat, please contact: Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications

About PCMA

PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 59 countries. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org.

About PCMA Foundation

The role of the Foundation of PCMA is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant-giving focused on scholarships, education and research that will advance the business events industry. Annually the Foundation funds over $700K in impact, and since 1985 has funded over 2,500 scholarships, 100 research studies and education programs, and $2.7M in charitable giving.

About CEMA

The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) is the eminent community for senior event executives, association peers and industry partners and is an integral component of the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) brand collective. CEMA promotes professional networking opportunities, facilitates peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and drives industry standards. Through strong relationships with strategic partners, CEMA fosters both finding innovative solutions to business issues and continuous focus on members’ career growth. For more information, please visit http://www.cemaonline.com.

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