About us
About Us

The International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) is a not-for-profit membership association and the only international accreditation organisation for professional conference organisers.
Advocacy
- Initiatives
- Dear Associations of the World
Initiatives & Advocacy

Raising the levels of professionalism and advocating on the economic and social impact value that our industry brings to communities around the world.
Membership
Membership

IAPCO Membership is the epitome of excellence for PCOs in the global business events industry.
Education
Education

Education is at the core of IAPCO and everything the Association does revolves around it.
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Partnerships

IAPCO partners are organisations that have aligned themselves with IAPCO’s mission to promote the professional development of congress organisers and the industry.
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Knowledge Hub

The go-to location for the latest issues of our PCO Magazine, member news, IAPCO articles and to access our many whitepapers and guidelines.
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Awards and Scholarships

IAPCO is committed to raising standards of service among all sectors of the meetings industry by means of continuing education, interaction, and recognition of professionals. As part of this commitment, IAPCO has created a programme of Driving Excellence Awards to recognise excellence within the IAPCO member community.

Driving Excellence Awards

Nominated by IAPCO members, IAPCO Driving Excellence Awards are presented annually and have long been coveted by those who seek acknowledgement for their quality and contribution to the meetings industry by IAPCO. Every year, IAPCO seeks nominations from across its member community for 3 unique awards.

Innovation Award

Recognising Innovative Solutions in the Meetings and Events Industry

Collaboration Award

Celebrating Successful Partnerships that Drive Excellence in the Meetings and Events Industry

Emerging Leader Award

Recognising Emerging Leaders in the Meetings and Events Industry

Sustainability Award

Recognising Leadership and Innovation in Sustainable Event Management

IAPCO Driving Excellence Awards most recent recipients

Innovation Award Winner 2025

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The current winner of the Innovation Award 2025 is Nuria Fernández Roldán of Kenes Group.

Nominations for the IAPCO Innovation Award 2026 are now open until 5 April 2026. Learn more and submit your nomination here.

Collaboration Award Winner 2025

The current winner of the IAPCO Collaboration Award 2025 is MCI Australia, in partnership with the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA), the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Australian Space Agency (ASA).

IAPCO Emerging Leaders Programme – APAC & The Jan Tonkin Scholarship

In 2024, IAPCO launched a Next Gen Leadership Programme specifically for IAPCO members in Asia Pacific. Throughout this programme, one participant would be awarded the IAPCO Jan Tonkin Scholarship, offerring the winner a complimentary participation in the next IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly.

It is named after IAPCO former President and former IAPCO Training Academy Chair Jan Tonkin, and supported by the New Zealand International Conference Centre (NZICC).