Black Meetings & Tourism - EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath Advances to 2025 Chairman

Industry Briefs
EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath Advances to 2025 Chairman
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, recently announced the election of officers and directors to its 2025 Board of Directors. In 2024, the EIC Council approved an expansion and restructure of the Board to ensure ongoing continuity and representation. The expanded Board will have four directors, including the new position of Treasurer who automatically advances to Chair-Elect. In addition to seven at-large association seats on the board, the slate will now include two at-large representatives from EIC's corporate membership. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the I nternational Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) transitions to Chair of EIC, having held the role of Chair-Elect in 2024. With more than 20 years' experience in the global meetings, association and leisure industry, Gopinath is known for leadership, passion and commitment to the business events and meetings industry. Stephanie Harris, President of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) was elected Chair-Elect, and Jason Dunn, CEO of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, was elected Treasurer. Harris will serve as Chair in 2026, followed by Dunn in 2027. Ana María Viscasillas, MBA, CDME, Board Liaison for COCAL, will serve as Past-Chair on the 2025 Board. "I am deeply honored to lead EIC's Board of Directors during this exciting and pivotal time for the business events industry," Gopinath said. "I am grateful for the steadfast leadership of Past Chairs Ana María Viscasillas and Sherrif Karamat and am thankful for their ongoing support as we continue our work to advance our industry across all sectors for the benefit of all members and partners." The 2025 Board will help guide the organization through an important year with numerous noteworthy milestones, including the release of the Futures Landscape Study, a report examining the emerging trends likely to shape the business events industry developed with input from EIC's 60+ member organizations; the highly anticipated update to the CMP International Standards; and revisions to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards. "I look forward to supporting Senthil and the Board during this important period of growth and forward vision," Harris said. "The work we do in the next year will positively impact our industry, growing workforce, and all the lives we touch for years to come." EIC President and CEO Amy Calvert congratulated the incoming Executive Committee and Officers, and says she is looking forward to working with the board, volunteer leaders and management team to carry out EIC's ambitious vision. "I am incredibly enthusiastic about the work ahead of us as we engage with EIC's global stakeholder community to share our industry's purpose and impact more broadly." The EIC Board is comprised of elected members of the overall Events Industry Council, which consists of associations and corporate organizations spanning the globe and every sector in the business events industry. The Board serves as the governing body for the overall council with fiscal and strategic responsibility for all EIC programs. The full board slate is listed below: 2025 Board of Directors Executive Committee · Chair: Senthil Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) · Immediate Past Chair: Ana Maria Viscasillas, MBA, CDME, Board Liaison, COCAL · Chair-Elect: Stephanie Harris, President, Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) · Treasurer: Jason Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals At-Large Officers Serving Two-Year Terms beginning 1 January 2025 · Association Member: Marsha Flanagan, President & CEO, IAEE · Corporate Member: Ben Goedegebuure, Chief Global Strategy Officer, Maritz · Association Member: Sherrif Karamat, President & CEO, PCMA · Corporate Member: Natasha Richards, Director of Impact & Industry Relations, IMEX · Association Member: Tina Wehmeir, President & Chief Executive Officer, AMCI · Association Member: Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International Officers Continuing Their Two-Year Term which will end 31 December 2025 · Association Member: Michelle Mason, President and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership · Association Member: Vincent Polito, CEO, SISO About Events Industry Council The Events Industry Council's global federation includes 32 Association Members representing 103,500 individuals and 19,500 entities, and more than 30 Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world. EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program and signature program activities. The CMP credential is recognized globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org .

Industry Briefs

EVENTS INDUSTRY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath Advances to 2025 Chairman

The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, recently announced the election of officers and directors to its 2025 Board of Directors.

In 2024, the EIC Council approved an expansion and restructure of the Board to ensure ongoing continuity and representation. The expanded Board will have four directors, including the new position of Treasurer who automatically advances to Chair-Elect. In addition to seven at-large association seats on the board, the slate will now include two at-large representatives from EIC's corporate membership.

Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the I nternational Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) transitions to Chair of EIC, having held the role of Chair-Elect in 2024. With more than 20 years' experience in the global meetings, association and leisure industry, Gopinath is known for leadership, passion and commitment to the business events and meetings industry.

Stephanie Harris, President of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) was elected Chair-Elect, and Jason Dunn, CEO of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, was elected Treasurer. Harris will serve as Chair in 2026, followed by Dunn in 2027. Ana María Viscasillas, MBA, CDME, Board Liaison for COCAL, will serve as Past-Chair on the 2025 Board.

"I am deeply honored to lead EIC's Board of Directors during this exciting and pivotal time for the business events industry," Gopinath said. "I am grateful for the steadfast leadership of Past Chairs Ana María Viscasillas and Sherrif Karamat and am thankful for their ongoing support as we continue our work to advance our industry across all sectors for the benefit of all members and partners."

The 2025 Board will help guide the organization through an important year with numerous noteworthy milestones, including the release of the Futures Landscape Study, a report examining the emerging trends likely to shape the business events industry developed with input from EIC's 60+ member organizations; the highly anticipated update to the CMP International Standards; and revisions to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards.

"I look forward to supporting Senthil and the Board during this important period of growth and forward vision," Harris said. "The work we do in the next year will positively impact our industry, growing workforce, and all the lives we touch for years to come."

EIC President and CEO Amy Calvert congratulated the incoming Executive Committee and Officers, and says she is looking forward to working with the board, volunteer leaders and management team to carry out EIC's ambitious vision. "I am incredibly enthusiastic about the work ahead of us as we engage with EIC's global stakeholder community to share our industry's purpose and impact more broadly."

The EIC Board is comprised of elected members of the overall Events Industry Council, which consists of associations and corporate organizations spanning the globe and every sector in the business events industry. The Board serves as the governing body for the overall council with fiscal and strategic responsibility for all EIC programs.

The full board slate is listed below:

2025 Board of Directors

Executive Committee

· Chair: Senthil Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)

· Immediate Past Chair: Ana Maria Viscasillas, MBA, CDME, Board Liaison, COCAL

· Chair-Elect: Stephanie Harris, President, Incentive Research Foundation (IRF)

· Treasurer: Jason Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals

At-Large Officers Serving Two-Year Terms beginning 1 January 2025

· Association Member: Marsha Flanagan, President & CEO, IAEE

· Corporate Member: Ben Goedegebuure, Chief Global Strategy Officer, Maritz

· Association Member: Sherrif Karamat, President & CEO, PCMA

· Corporate Member: Natasha Richards, Director of Impact & Industry Relations, IMEX

· Association Member: Tina Wehmeir, President & Chief Executive Officer, AMCI

· Association Member: Don Welsh, President & CEO, Destinations International

Officers Continuing Their Two-Year Term which will end 31 December 2025

· Association Member: Michelle Mason, President and CEO, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership

· Association Member: Vincent Polito, CEO, SISO

About Events Industry Council

The Events Industry Council's global federation includes 32 Association Members representing 103,500 individuals and 19,500 entities, and more than 30 Corporate Members with global operations and event teams in countries around the world.

EIC is the global champion for event professionals and event industry excellence. It promotes high standards and professionalism in the events industry with the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program and signature program activities. The CMP credential is recognized globally as the badge of excellence in the events industry. The qualifications for certification are based on professional experience, education and a rigorous exam. Learn more at www.eventscouncil.org .