Entry Form

IAPCO Driving Excellence Awards - Emerging Leader Award (Individual Award)

Formerly known as the IAPCO Hero Award, the Emerging Leader Award has been created by IAPCO and our Destination Partners to recognise an individual within our community who has demonstrated leadership skills early in their professional career.

Judging Principles
Each nomination will be evaluated on the following criteria:
  • Impact: measurable contribution to community-building within the meetings industry.
  • Innovation: new, creative, or adaptive approaches to challenges.
  • Inspiration: ability to motivate others and create positive change.
  • Future vision: clarity and depth of thought regarding the evolution of the PCO community.
  • Leadership & collaboration: demonstration of teamwork, influence, and values aligned with IAPCO’s mission.

Entries will be independently reviewed by all jury panel members (comprising one representative from each Destination Partner Convention Bureau), using a standardised scoring matrix based on six weighted criteria: project impact, innovation, leadership, alignment with IAPCO values, future vision, and personal presentation.

Scores (1–5) are submitted via a SurveyMonkey form and consolidated by IAPCO HQ to produce an overall ranking.

The final winner will be determined by the highest total score.

Entry deadline: Friday 9 January 2026

Rules of Entry
  1. All entrants must be 40 years of age or under and currently employed in any department of an IAPCO PCO company.
  2. Entries are limited to one person per 100 employees of an IAPCO Member Company.
  3. Any staff member, whether from a Member Company or a registered Member Office, is eligible.

Judging
The IAPCO Council will judge all entries based on the above criteria.

The Award
The winning recipient will receive:
  • One complimentary pass to the following year’s IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly in Athens, Greece, along with €1,500 for travel and hotel support.
The winner will be informed under embargo at the end of December 2025, and the award will be presented on stage by our Destination Partners during the AM&GA.

Nominate an Emerging Leader
Do you know someone who embodies the qualities of an exceptional leader?
Help us recognise and celebrate their contribution to our industry.

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* 1. IAPCO member details

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* 2. Short biography [<100 words]

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* 3. Provide a description [<500 words] of the project/initiative where you have contributed to enhance community building in the last 12 months highlighting:
  • Short overall description
  • Key goals
  • Tools and initiatives implemented
  • Tangible and measurable outcomes.

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* 4. Provide a 1000-word summary on how you envision the future of the global meetings industry when it comes to the impact/shift digital technology, AI, sustainability, generational change can have on the broad community of PCOs, your teams, clients and importantly, your clients’ member communities or a city’s community following the delivery of an event.

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* 5. Please ask your company to provide an endorsement of you and your work. [<300 words]

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* 6. Please provide a two-minute video introducing yourself and addressing the following:
(1.) Your profile and key responsibilities
(2.) A community project you are particularly proud of
(3.) Your personal vision for the industry
Include the YouTube or Vimeo link in the box below

Thank you and best of luck!

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