IFES Asia-Pacific Ambassador, Dianne Leedham, recently represented the federation at key industry gatherings in Melbourne, contributing to both the ABEA Conference (December 2025) and the AIME Leaders Forum (February 2026), strengthening IFES’ visibility and engagement across the region.
At the ABEA Conference, held under the theme Partner with Impact, Dianne joined a panel of industry leaders to explore how collaboration can drive a more sustainable and competitive events ecosystem. Representing IFES, she presented the global Better Stands initiative and highlighted the strength of the federation’s global network, where international expertise is delivered through trusted local partners. This global network, local delivery approach enables members to collaborate across borders, supporting more sustainable outcomes through shared standards, trusted relationships and a commitment to quality and innovation.
A key focus of the panel was the role of partnerships in advancing circular-economy practices, reducing waste and aligning regional efforts with global sustainability frameworks. The discussion reinforced the value of IFES in connecting stakeholders and enabling knowledge exchange across markets.
At the AIME Leaders Forum, Dianne continued to represent IFES in a collaborative dialogue focused on strengthening industry advocacy. A central theme of the forum “a rising tide lifts all boats” reflected strong alignment across venues, organisers, bureaus and suppliers.
Discussions highlighted the need for a clear, evidence-based narrative to better communicate the industry’s economic impact, as well as the limitations of current data, which underrepresents the full value of the sector. There was strong consensus around the role of artificial intelligence in consolidating fragmented data into a centralised, real-time industry resource, with collaboration across all industry pillars identified as essential to drive advocacy and investment.
These engagements provided valuable opportunities to promote IFES’ global initiatives while contributing to important conversations shaping the future of the business events industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
