KLIMMEN, Netherlands — Women in Exhibitions Network (WIEN) has announced that Sonia Thomas will become the global organization’s first female executive director, effective November 1.
Thomas brings more than 20 years of experience in the association sector to this new position, including as Director of Operations and COO of UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry, where she worked for more than 14 years. She also works as a Senior Consultant for Event and Exhibition Management at jwc GmbH.
“I am very honored to be the organization’s first executive director. It’s something that is very close to my heart and a continuation of some of the work I started at UFI,” Thomas said. “I want to make it known VIENNA “I will work to bring women together to share information and experiences and network. I also want to reach more women around the world. Gender diversity and representation of women at senior levels is still very low in our industry, especially compared to entry-level, and it is important to identify the reasons for this glass ceiling. I think many men would like to see more gender diversity, but they don’t know how to go about making their organization more inclusive. Greater gender diversity also makes good business sense: research has shown that diverse and inclusive organizations enjoy higher profits. There is still a long way to go, but I am very optimistic.”
MAD Event Management LLC, Salon Düsseldorf North America and Visit Detroit are supporting the new position created to develop and evolve WIEN through their sponsorship.
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“The next chapter for the Women in Exhibitions network will be about building on our strengths and centering our voices to reimagine our impact in a changing industry,” said Oana Cipca, Founder of WIEN. “As WIEN faces the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, we are excited to have our new Executive Director, Sonia Thomas, officially represent this community. I have always admired Sonia for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to women in our industry, and proven track record. We are proud to have her take on this role and work with us to move WIEN forward.”
Launched in the Netherlands in 2018, WIEN aims to empower women in the trade fair and exhibition industry, encourage diversity and networking, and nurture and provide mentorship and community to the next generation of women leaders. In addition to its already established chapters in the UK, North America, Germany and the Middle East, WIEN recently expanded the network with its Dutch chapter in July 2022. New international chapters are expected to form in 2023, further strengthening the network.
Contact Sonia Thomas at sonia.thomas@womeninexhibitions.com; Oana Cipca at info@womeninexhibitions.com