UFI Announces 2017 Next Generation Leadership Grant Program

February 14, 2017

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has launched its 2017 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) grant and is inviting talented events professionals from around the world to apply.

UFI will award grants to up to five future leaders who have shown exceptional initiative in driving change and innovation in their area of the exhibition industry.

Together, the winners will investigate the future of exhibitions, working closely with the team at UFI headquarters in Paris. They will present their findings in a special session at the 84th UFI Global Congress in Johannesburg (South Africa) – the world exhibition industry’s leading annual global event.

“UFI’s NGL grant is all about promoting the talent we have in the exhibition industry – and giving our best rising professionals the international recognition and opportunities they deserve,” said UFI Managing Director Kai Hattendorf.

He added, “When UFI set up the NGL scheme last year it generated enormous global interest. It is exciting to drive this project forward as it facilitates the dialogue between the generations.

Last year’s inaugural NGL competition attracted applications from 16 countries. Chaired by UFI President Sergey Alexeev, the international jury selected five winners: Adeline Larroque Desages, Qatar Tourism Authority (Qatar); Jennifer Feeney, Freeman XP (US); Vineet Mahajan, Reed India (India); Farokh Shahabi Nezhad, Eventbox (Iran); and Matthias Pollmann, Koelnmesse (Germany).

In a  session at the UFI Global Congress in Shanghai in November, all five 2016 NGL winners set out their visions for the future, drawing an audience of more than 400 high-ranking exhibition professionals.

The 2017 NGL grant is open to anyone who works full-time in the exhibition industry, and has done so for no more than 10 years.

The grant includes:

• global recognition among exhibition professionals before, during and after the UFI Global Congress;

• opportunity to enhance network with peers and industry leaders worldwide;

• interviews in exhibition industry media;

• expert guidance throughout the project.

The grant covers travel and accommodation to take part in the UFI European Conference in Cologne (Germany) May 10-12 and the UFI Global Congress Nov. 1-4. 

Applications are open until 26 March 2017. More information is available online.

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