The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) and PCMA have formalised a strategic collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at PCMA Convening Leaders 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The agreement strengthens cooperation across thought leadership, professional education, research, and emerging leader engagement within the global business events industry.
Under the agreement, IAPCO and PCMA will work together on a defined programme of reciprocal and joint initiatives, including:
Thought leadership exchange, with senior leaders from both organisations contributing to CEO-level panels and sessions at flagship events, including IAPCO’s Annual Meeting & General Assembly and PCMA’s Convening Leaders
Reciprocal education access, providing members of both organisations with a 20% discount on online educational content and learning resources
Joint research initiatives, with one collaborative research project delivered annually, focused on Next Generation talent or government policy impacting the business events industry
Emerging leaders and student engagement, through one joint initiative per year targeting university programmes or student associations, incorporating education access, awareness campaigns or live sessions
Shared educational delivery, including at least one joint session annually at a major international industry trade show
The two-year MOU establishes a structured framework for collaboration between the two global organisations, aligned by a shared commitment to advancing professionalism, insight gathering and long-term capability across the international meetings and events sector.
