第65届ICCA年会携手IEEE、AC Forum、UN Tourism等机构打造跨行业教育项目

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is emphasising its role as a connector of business leaders from across industries as it builds an education programme for the 65^th ICCA Annual Congress that draws perspectives and lessons from outside the meetings industry.

Teams representing the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Associations & Conference Forum (AC Forum), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), and Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean are collaborating with ICCA to co-create interactive sessions across the four-day meeting in Panama City this November.

This programming approach aligns with the ICCA Annual Congress 2026’s theme, CrossWorlds.

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath told TTGmice that such cross-industry learning opportunities are valuable for meetings professionals.

“The future of business events won’t be shaped by our industry alone. If we want to stay relevant, innovative and impactful, we need to learn from the organisations and sectors shaping the world around us,” stated Gopinath.

He added that ICCA has “long advocated that business events are more than meetings; they are platforms for knowledge exchange, innovation and positive change”.

Gemmeke De Jongh, senior manager of education and impact at ICCA, said such collaboration on education is a “commercial necessity”.

“As leaders respond to complex global risks, economic pressure, technological acceleration, and increasing social polarisation, the ability to work together across differences is emerging as a defining factor in organisational resilience and performance,” she explained.

According to ICCA, AC Forum will discuss key current concerns for association leaders – from member engagement and governance to long-term strategy and organisational relevance. UN Tourism will bring insights into destinations, sustainability, economic impact, and the growing role meetings play in creating positive outcomes for local communities.

Meanwhile, Marie Hunter, IEEE’s managing director of conferences, events and experiences, revealed that her team will lead two strategic sessions designed to explore how intentionally engineered events can build resilient communities, spark interdisciplinary innovation, and leave a lasting civic legacy long after delegates head home.

Session 1 will focus on catalysing communities through audience-centric strategies and ecosystem building – demonstrating how taking a cross-disciplinary approach creates richer delegate connections and long-term engagement.

Session 2 will centre on amplifying event impact by sharing actionable insights and frameworks drawn directly from IEEE’s global portfolio of thousands of annual tech and research convenings.

Hunter sees “tremendous value in supporting the ICCA Congress, because our shared global outlook and commitment to meaningful connection make us natural allies in championing the power of collective experience”.

When asked if the collaboration with ICCA this year would encourage IEEE to seek more cross-industry learning opportunities in the future, Hunter told TTGmice: “As a public charity, IEEE’s priority is delivering on our mission, and one of the most powerful ways we do that is by convening thought leaders. The ICCA Congress brings together like-minded professionals from around the world to exchange fresh ideas, spark innovation, and build collaborations that extend well beyond the event itself. The economic impact of our activities is undeniable.”

More programme co-creators will be revealed in the lead-up to the November event, according to De Jongh.

Gopinath said Congress attendees can expect fresh insights into how business events can contribute to more inclusive growth, stronger communities, and long-term legacies.

De Jongh believes that the “best learning often happens when people with completely different backgrounds sit down together and explore challenges from new angles”.

To ensure that these out-of-the-box perspectives directly benefit meetings professionals, Gopinath said content collaboration began at the very start of the programming process.

“We’re working with our co-curators from the very beginning to make sure their expertise is connected to the opportunities and challenges our industry is facing today. The goal is not to run separate conversations, but to create meaningful connections between their world and ours,” he explained.

For example, when UN Tourism talks about destination development, the sessions will explore the role business events play in attracting investment, advancing innovation, and creating long-term impact.

De Jongh also shared that ICCA is working closely with the House of Beautiful Business to introduce fresh perspectives and create an engaging, distinctive experience for every Congress delegate.