UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry, has launched a series of regular talks, sessions, and panels that will take place online, ‘UFI Connects’.
The first sessions are focusing on the impact the Covid-19 pandemic is having on the exhibitions and events industry in various regions around the world.
“We are working to support our members and the industry at large through this unique time. The recovery of the world’s economies will rely on our companies, our skills: We will need to build and run the market places and the meeting places for industries and experts to come together again. UFI Connects is a way to stay connected, to get through this pandemic, and to be ready for the time afterwards,” says Mary Larkin, UFI President.
The UFI Connects programme will also feature selected sessions from previous UFI events that are normally only available to members of the association. Access to all sessions will be free of charge for industry professionals.
Hundreds of industry colleagues signed up for the initial sessions. First up was Focus on Latin America, a session that included updates and insights from Pepe Navarro (Tarsus Mexico), Fernando Gorbaran (Messe Frankfurt Argentina) and Ana Maria Arango (UFI Regional Manager Latam).
Next came Focus on Asia, a session that included updates and insights from Aloysius Arlando (SingEx Holdings, Singapore), Michael Duck (Informa Exhibitions Asia, HongKong), Anbu Varathan (BIEC, Bangalore), and Michael Kruppe (SNIEC, Shanghai), moderated by Mark Cochrane (UFI Regional Manager Asia/Pacific).
This week will see a live session on the situation in Middle East & Africa, and other programming.
The hub for this evolving programming is a designated area on the UFI website at www.ufi.org/uficonnects. Schedules and programme announcements will be posted there. Exhibition industry professionals will also have the opportunity to re-watch previous episodes and programmes.
“The content we provide and deliver at our UFI events around the world are one of our association’s biggest assets. While our regular events and educational programmes cannot take place as usual, UFI Connects is our way to continue to deliver,” says Kai Hattendorf, UFI CEO and MD.
