Global exhibition industry association UFI’s Board of Directors has elected Mary Larkin as its next president for 2020. She will be the first woman to hold the post in the association's history.
The decision was made at the board meeting during the UFI European Conference in Verona (Italy).
The UFI presidential trio for the 2018/19 term will, therefore comprise of:
- Craig Newman (Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa) president 2018/19
- Mary Larkin, (Diversified Communications, Portland, USA) incoming president
- Corrado Peraboni (Fiera Milano, Italy) outgoing president.
- This decision becomes effective at the conclusion of the 85th UFI Global Congress, which runs from 31 October to 3 November 2018 in St Petersburg.
Peraboni congratulated Larkin on her election as incoming president. “It will be a great privilege for me to be part of the presidential trio, together with Craig Newman and Andreas Gruchow in this historical moment - Mary will be the first female President in UFI’s history, and also the first to be based in the USA. I wish her every success in performing all the important duties that are required of this position.”
Mary Larkin commented: “I am delighted to be part of UFI’s leadership in the coming years and to continue with the development and support that UFI has provided the industry for so long. I am particularly looking forward to representing and working with women to help increase the level of female representation in leadership positions within the industry.”
The UFI European Conference 2019 , meanwhile, will be hosted by the NEC in Birmingham, UK.
The conference will take place 15-17 May, it was announced following a meeting between Kathryn James, MD Conventions and Exhibitions at the NEC Group and UFI president Corrado Peraboni in Verona.
James commented: “The UK’s position in the global events industry and its evolving role in the European political and economic landscape have made the mutual desire to bring Europe’s largest meeting of international event industry professionals to our shores even stronger. It’s brilliant to now confirm that the NEC Birmingham will be hosting the UFI European Conference 2019. There’s no doubt that the high-tech venue facilities at our new VOX conference centre, our personalised service and unrivalled international connectivity helped us lock down the deal. This is a great opportunity and reinforces our role, at the heart of the UK events industry, as one of Europe’s busiest exhibition centres.”
Photo: The UFI Presidential Trio 2018/19: president Craig Newman, outgoing president Corrado Peraboni, incoming president Mary Larkin
