Nearly 120 exhibition industry professionals gathered in Milan, Italy for the 2nd annual World Women in Exhibition Summit (WIE). Held from November 18 to 19 at Cloister of San BarnabaThe theme of the event was “Building Bridges, Breaking Ceilings”.
Looking back: In 2023, the WIE World Summit attracted around 80 professionals from the exhibition industry. MECC Maastrichtwhen the event was held on June 13-14, 2023 in the Netherlands.
Context: Founded in 2018 by Oana Cipca, WIE provides professional development for women working in exhibitions and meeting and networking opportunities. WIE currently has chapters in the United Kingdom, North America, Germany, France, the Middle East and the Netherlands. This year’s event was organized by Cipca and WIE Vice President Sonia Thomas.
Here are 10 notable moments from this year’s event:
1. For the second year in a row, the Global Summit was moderated and moderated by Silvia Forroova, Informa Markets Director of Partnerships and Sustainability, and Joseph Kearney, Informa Markets Creative Content Editor.2. For the first time, Informa sponsored the Rising Stars initiative, which provided scholarships for women to attend the event.3. Located in the center of Milan, Chiostri de San Barnaba has retained its historic charm among the cloisters of a 15th-century convent.4. Attendees participated in an olive oil tasting during a networking reception and dinner held in the Fresco Room, a former convent refectory originally built in 1466 .5. In a panel discussion, three women leaders from diverse backgrounds discussed planning your career path, growing and progressing in the industry. Left to right: Moderated by Kearney, the panel included Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK and Global, Philippa Christer, Montgomery Group Portfolio Director, and Danica Tormohlen, TSNN/Informa Connect Group VP of Content.6. Michèle Tiley-Hill, CFO of RX, took the stage to share her unforgettable journey of courage to break barriers and build bridges. During this session, she shared valuable insights into how she dealt with bias, faced tragedy, and built bridges moving forward.7. Delegates had the opportunity to participate in small group workshops on a variety of topics, ranging from public speaking/building confidence and accepting cultural differences to how to having difficult conversations and ensuring psychological safety in the workplace.8. In a fireside chat, WIE founder Oana Cipca sat down with Manchester Central CEO Lori Hoinkes (pictured) to reflect on different experiences in her career.9. Participants gained valuable global perspectives with practical regional lessons during a panel, moderated by Kearney (pictured left to right), which featured Donna Hyland, Managing Director of GES Middle East, Eva Klinger, director of sales and marketing for guest events at Messe Frankfurt, and the Hong Kong Convention. and Diane Chen, Deputy General Manager of Exhibition Center Management Limited.10. During a roundtable, three women leaders shared their perceptions and points of view from both sides of the fence. They discussed customer expectations and needs, highlighting what they were doing well and areas for improvement. From left to right: The panel, moderated by Forroova, included Diddy Durant, Amsterdam Rai’s director of global business development, Mina El Fazazi, Alstom’s director of external events, and Nadra Mohy el Dine, Kubik’s general manager for EMEA region.Looking to the future: The North American Chapter of the Women in Exhibitions Network is hosting an in-person meet and greet at the International Association of Exhibitions and Events Annual Meeting and Exhibition! Expo!. The event, sponsored by Expo Convention Contractors Inc., is scheduled for 5-6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17 at the lobby bar of the JW Marriott in Los Angeles. RSVP here.
Or Get In Touch
Email Us
info@popup-booth.com
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM—8:00 PM
Visit Us
International Exhibition Center, No. 1 Furniture Avenue, Houjie Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong, China
Get A Wholesale Quote
Please leave your requirements and PopUp will contact you within 24H!
