Taipei: Jan Tonkin, managing director of Auckland-based The Conference Company, has been elected President of the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO). Ms. Tonkin was elected in February at IAPCO’s annual General Assembly in Cape Town, and takes over from outgoing President Michel Neijmann for a two-year term.
Ms. Tonkin is the third female member of the World PCO Alliance elected to a high-ranking industry position: Nina Freysen-Pretorius of South Africa’s The Conference Company is president of ICCA, and Kitty Wong of K&A International in Taiwan is the current president of the World PCO Alliance.
“I am excited to represent my colleagues at IAPCO and look forward to furthering the mission,” says Tonkin. “The WPCOA is a unique group of PCOs around the world. Its industry leadership is truly impressive.”
Says WPCOA President Wong: “Jan is a much-admired peer, and I wish her all the very best in this new role as IAPCO president: You’ve come a long way, baby! As President of the World PCO Alliance, I am doubly excited to be part of an organization represented by so many talented and influential women. The Alliance offers its members and their clients a rich collection of knowledge and insight regarding the conference and meetings industry.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to Jan Tonkin for having been elected as the IAPCO President and would like to wish her the best of luck with her term of office,” adds Nina Freysen-Pretorius. “It is very encouraging to have the opportunity of working with fellow WPCOA members whom are held in such high regard within the business events industry globally.”
Founded in 2009, the World PCO Alliance provides leadership in meeting management through the delivery of streamlined and effective meetings around the globe. The Alliance’s mandate includes the collective exchange of education, technology, and other information for the mutual benefit of the industry, and ensuring the effective global promotion of its clients’ events. The organization is comprised of 21 chosen, quality PCOs in the meetings industry from around the world.
