• Five winners selected by international jury
• Grantees to explore innovative, unconventional event formats
• Programme to commence at the 2025 UFI European Events Week

Paris — 25/04/2025: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) grant. This year’s grantees were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants by an esteemed panel of international judges chaired by UFI President Hugh Jones.

Now in its ninth edition, the NGL grant aims to recognise and support emerging talent within the exhibition industry. Eligible candidates must have fewer than ten years of industry experience and demonstrate a strong commitment to driving innovation and positive change in their respective fields.

Sponsored by Clarion Events, dmg events, Informa Markets, and RX, the programme offers recipients mentorship and guidance from global industry leaders, making it the exhibition industry’s leading talent accelerator initiative.

The 2025 NGL grant winners are:

• Anida D’Costa – Senior Conference Producer, Informa Markets (UAE)
• Diana Maria Salman – Senior Sales Manager, FEXPOCRUZ (Bolivia)
• Ilaria Basile – Event Operations Manager, Clarion Events (UK)
• Sarah Jung – Sales Manager, Messe München (Germany)
• Taher Hakami – Riyadh Business Events Manager, SCEGA (Saudi Arabia)

The 2025 NGL mission centres on redefining exhibition formats in response to the evolving needs of audiences, exhibitors, and organisers. Throughout the programme, the NGL grantees will discover and develop bold, forward-thinking approaches that challenge traditional event structures.

The Jury:

The jury was chaired by Hugh Jones – UFI President and CEO of RX – and included:

• Celia Hidalgo Calvo – Digital Strategist, IFEMA Madrid (Spain)
• Hala Dean – VP, Organisational Learning & Development, Clarion Events (USA)
• Sean Ongers – Head of Global Learning & Performance, Informa Markets (UK)
• Beatrice Vedovato – HR Recruitment Specialist, Italian Exhibition Group (Italy)
• Fanny Chavaux – Chief People Officer, GL Events (France)
• Premila Braganza – Vice President – HR, dmg events (UAE)
• Chris Skeith OBE – CEO & Managing Director, UFI (UK)

“The UFI Next Generation Leadership grant continues to shine a spotlight on bold ideas and the emerging talent shaping the future of our industry. I extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s recipients. Your drive, creativity, and dedication to pushing boundaries are truly inspiring and reflect the dynamic, ever-evolving spirit of the exhibition industry. I look forward to witnessing the meaningful impact your work will have in the years to come,” commented UFI President Hugh Jones.

Awardees will begin their journey with an in-person workshop in June during the UFI European Events Week in Thessaloniki, Greece. Over the following seven months, they will collaborate online to further develop their project. The programme will conclude with a group presentation at the 92nd UFI Global Congress in Hong Kong SAR, offering a global platform to share their insights, ideas, and vision for the future of the industry.

UFI congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Next Generation Leadership grant and looks forward to supporting them as they embark on this exciting journey.

For more information about the NGL grant, visit the UFI website: www.ufi.org/ngl.

Attachments:

• UFI NGL grant 2025 logo
• Picture of 2025 UFI NGL winners

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• 92nd UFI Global Congress to take place from 19-22 November 2025
• UFI’s most global event to be hosted by AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong
• Once-in-a-century occasion to celebrate UFI’s 100th-anniversary

Paris, France — 25/03/2025: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has officially opened registration for the 92nd UFI Global Congress, which will take place from 19-22 November 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong SAR.

As the premier annual event for the exhibition industry, the UFI Global Congress brings together hundreds of industry leaders from across the world to connect and exchange insights. It also features diverse programming with speakers from both within and outside the exhibition industry, sharing their expertise on the latest challenges, innovations, and opportunities driving the industry forward.

The 2025 UFI Global Congress will be a once-in-a-century event, marking the culmination of UFI’s 100th-anniversary celebrations. UFI has been celebrating its century-long legacy online and at its regional conferences throughout the year, and Hong Kong will serve as the grand finale, featuring special surprises and exclusive moments for attendees.

“Hosting the 92nd UFI Global Congress at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong marks a significant milestone for us, especially as we celebrate UFI’s 100th anniversary. Hong Kong’s vibrant culture and robust business environment make it the perfect backdrop for this global gathering. We are dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience for every attendee,” comments Irene Chan, CEO of AsiaWorld-Expo.

“This year, we are also excited to launch our new GBA activation program, which will highlight the seamless connectivity and diversity of the Greater Bay Area through visits to Macau, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen. I am eager to welcome the global exhibition community to join us in this celebration of unity and innovation at this historic event.”

“The UFI Global Congress is where the industry’s leaders come together to discuss the future, build connections, and gain insights from peers across the globe,” adds Chris Skeith OBE, CEO and Managing Director of UFI.

“This year’s edition will be particularly special as we honour the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future during our 100th anniversary. We look forward to welcoming our global community to Hong Kong for this milestone event.”

UFI invites the 50,000+ industry professionals in its member companies, as well as colleagues from partner associations SISO, ICCA, and AIPC, to attend this flagship event that brings together the world’s leading exhibition organisers, venues, and service providers.

Early Bird registration rates are available until 5 June 2025. For more information, visit: www.uficongress.org.

For more information about sponsorship and media opportunities, please contact events@ufi.org.

Attachments:

• 2025 UFI Global Congress visual – 1920 x 1082
• 2025 UFI Global Congress visual – 1024 x 1024

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