Presented by IAPCO Strategic Partner ICCA, The Future of Healthcare Meetings 2026 will bring together association leaders, destinations and industry partners to explore how healthcare meetings can create greater value through collaboration, innovation and lasting impact.
Bringing extensive PCO expertise and an international leadership perspective to the stage, Sissi Lignou, IAPCO President and President & CEO of AFEA Congress, the event’s official PCO, will join the programme’s expert line-up. She will contribute practical insight and strategic perspective to a timely discussion on how healthcare meetings can move beyond traditional sponsorship models to build genuine, value-led partnerships.
Interactive Panel and Workshop: Can We Transition from a Traditional Sponsorship Model to a True Partnership Approach?
Date: Monday, 21 September 2026
Time: 16:00–17:00
This interactive panel and workshop will examine whether healthcare meetings can move beyond transactional sponsorship models towards genuine, long-term partnerships. The discussion will consider opportunities for greater alignment alongside the practical realities of compliance, governance and independence, exploring how trust, scientific integrity and shared value can be achieved.
The session will be moderated by Thomas Reiser, Partner, Association Advisory, GainingEdge.
Speakers
- Francesco Agnesini, International Market Development Manager, International EB Marketing Endoscopy Division, Global
- Sissi Lignou, PCO at AFEA Congress and President, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO)
- Barbara Ewals, Chief Executive Officer, SIOG, International Society of Geriatric Oncology
- Anne-Marie Kahrovic, Executive Director, International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)
