PCMA ANNOUNCES NEW EUROPEAN ADVISORY BOARD

CHICAGO, IL – Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA & CEMA, today announced PCMA’s newly appointed European Advisory Board, bringing together business events leaders from across a diverse range of markets, sectors and perspectives to further shape PCMA’s strategy, growth and impact across Europe.

The new Board reflects an evolution in PCMA’s approach to the EMEA region. Informed by market insights and feedback from its community and existing EMEA Advisory Board, PCMA will establish a dedicated European Advisory Board while the association develops distinct strategies and advisory groups for the Middle East and Africa. All three will remain connected through PCMA’s overarching EMEA strategy, allowing greater focus on the needs, opportunities and stages of development within each market.

“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 Karamat. “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. Right now, that combination isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.”

The European Advisory Board will come together for the first time in Lisbon ahead of Convening EMEA, 13–15 September 2026, where members will collaborate in a dedicated workshop focused on the future direction and priorities for PCMA in Europe.

The following leaders enter the first of a two-year term (2026–2028):

Monica Freire, COO, European Society of Endodontology

Sam Johnston, Manager, Dublin Convention Bureau

Patrick Keller, Director Sales – Locations of Messe München, Messe München GmbH

Sophie Morris, Managing Director, Worldspan Ltd

Christina Petrova, Senior Global Event Manager, Gartner

Steven Small, Vice President – Air Transport Events, Informa

Kim Smeets, Senior Congress Manager, European Society of Cardiology

Stephane Teboul, Co-Founder, bnetwork

Helen van Oers, Executive Director, International Society of Endocrinology

The following leaders are returning for an extended term of up to two years:

Eszter Aszody Mattiassich, Head of Global Events, Siemens Healthineers

Malin Erlandsson, Director of Sales, The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre

Clare Melton, Founder, Claremont Corporate Events Consulting

Jack Owens, Head of Sales, Horizons DMC by Tour Partner Group

Ulrike Tondorf, Brand Activation & Engagement Lead, Bayer

Eveline van der Pluijm-Degenhart, Manager Convention Bureau, Rotterdam Partners

Kathleen Warden, Owner, K Warden Ltd

Global Board Liaison: Stephen Rose, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Communication Services, Siemens

Staff Liaison: Jaimé Bennett, Managing Director, EMEA, PCMA

The European Advisory Board will provide PCMA with market intelligence and insights into emerging trends, growth opportunities and challenges affecting the European business events community. Members will also help PCMA strengthen connections across markets, identify new opportunities for collaboration, and ensure its education, experiences and community remain relevant to the evolving needs of business events professionals.

“Europe is not one market, and our approach to the region has to reflect that,” said Jaimé Bennett, Managing Director, EMEA. “This Advisory Board brings together an incredible breadth of experience, influence and perspective from across our business events community, and their role is far from simply offering advice. We’ve listened carefully to what our community has told us, and this next chapter is about being far more intentional in how we grow across the region. Together, we have the opportunity to build a PCMA in Europe that is locally relevant, globally connected and shaped by the people and markets we serve, while we develop distinct strategies for the Middle East and Africa that recognize the unique opportunities within those markets.”