AuSAE took four members to IMEX 2008 and following the success of last year, Manager of IMEX’s Hosted Buyer Program Nikki Williams has invited AuSAE to take at least eight members to IMEX 2009: a worldwide exhibition for meetings and incentive travel that includes a free international professional development program for association managers in the form of the IMEX Association Day and Evening, which will take place in Frankfurt on the eve of the exhibition.

In 2008 Simon Pryor led a group consisting of Julie Allen (Uniting Care), Caroline Hong (Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine), Michael Roff (Australian Private Hospitals Association) and Rosemary Scott (Galvanizers Association of Australia) to IMEX.

AuSAE’s participation in IMEX yields benefits for a broader range of members than those eligible and selected by the IMEX organisers to attend. This year, AuSAE was able to meet with representatives of the American, Canadian, European and UK Societies of Association Executives and discuss cooperation in support of our members on a global scale.

The AuSAE offer entails complimentary return flights to Frankfurt (probably departing on Saturday 23 May 2009), 4/5 star accommodation in Frankfurt, a day of professional development with other association mangers from around the globe and the IMEX expo itself involving at least 3,500 exhibitors from over 150 countries.

If you want to be part of this fantastic trip, please email Simon Pryor simon@pryorknowledge.com.au and he will provide you with the selection criteria. Nikki Williams from IMEX will decide whether or not you qualify as a ‘hosted buyer’ so please indicate if there is any other supporting information you think would strengthen your case for selection.