In her first column as Chief Executive of the Meetings Industry Association, Shonali Devereaux, highlights the importance of open dialogue and collaboration to strengthen the foundation and future of business meetings and events.
Having taken the reins from Kerrin MacPhie at the end of last year, I am excited to introduce myself as the new CEO of the Meetings Industry Association (MIA).
As I step into this role, my priority is to understand how we can continue delivering meaningful support to event professionals across the UK. This includes identifying ways to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities, while also increasing government awareness of our sector’s economic impact to influence policy in our favour.
To achieve this, I encourage open dialogue with our community, ensuring that the MIA remains an indispensable resource for navigating the complexities of our industry.
We are actively creating new ways for you to voice your questions, concerns and ideas more directly, such as our dedicated peer-to-peer groups. I am committed to expanding these opportunities throughout the year, strengthening two-way conversations to ensure our support remains relevant, proactive and truly reflective of your needs.
A key part of this ongoing dialogue will be our MIA Insights, which will continue to provide a vital understanding of the state of the sector. Our upcoming report will focus strongly on recruitment and retention, an area that has long challenged our sector and one we are determined to address. Collaboration will be key to uncovering effective solutions to areas such as these, and I therefore welcome your continued engagement with our research and industry events throughout the year.
The work we do together is not just about advancing the MIA but is also about shaping the future of UK business meetings and events. By working together, I am confident that we can elevate the sector’s position further and ensure its contributions are understood and appreciated both regionally and nationally.
I look forward to collaborating with you all throughout this exciting journey.