IAPCO Faculty Speakers
Nicola McGrane
CEO, Conference Partners International, Ireland
Nicola established Conference Partners International (CPI) in Ireland in 1998 and the business has since expanded its reach to the UK and Central Europe. With a strong emphasis on partnering with leading researchers and innovators, CPI has bid for and delivered over 500 International meetings. Over the past 19 years, CPI’s portfolio of expertise has grown to encompass Core PCO and Association Management Services. Renowned for her ability to identify opportunities, Nicola’s creative thinking and strategic advice has been sought at the highest level by numerous Associations, Corporations and Industry bodies. Nicola is wholly committed to developing the business tourism industry in Ireland, the UK and abroad. She is a founding member of The Association of Irish Professional Conference Organisers (AIPCO) and was a passionate council member for the International Association of Professional Conference Organisers (IAPCO) for 5 years. Nicola gives generously of her expertise and hands on skills for the benefit of others and loves to share this experience with rising stars of the global meetings industry.
Mathias Posch
IAPCO President - President, International Conference Services, Singapore
Mathias Posch is Chairman and President of International Conference Services (ICS). With its Headquarters in Vancouver, Canada and branch offices in Toronto, Denver, London, Vienna, Barcelona, Singapore and Tokyo, the company manages conferences around the globe – in 38 countries on 6 continents thus far. Mathias is President of IAPCO and as such leads the organisation’s expansion and outreach programme. He is a respected industry expert and has been invited to speak at numerous international and national conferences around the globe. Further he also serves on a number of Advisory Boards and consults international scientific and medical associations on their global strategy.
Ori Lahav
IAPCO Vice President - VP Client & Operations, Kenes Group, Israel
Ori Lahav joined Kenes in 2013 as AVP Marketing, bringing more than 15 years of marketing experience to the management team. Ori’s expertise includes implementing marketing strategies, ATL/BTL and leading digital campaigns in online/social media channels. He began his career in the communications industry, where he held marketing positions at Internet, voice and mobile telecom providers. This was followed by a senior role in the automotive sector with a start-up that raised US$ 900M to manufacture electric cars. After 4 years in the company, Ori moved to managing the Client Accounts & Operations unit. In the beginning of 2017, Ori also became an IAPCO Council Member (IAPCO – the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers). Ori holds a BA in Statistics from the University of Haifa and an MBA from the University of Derby, UK.
Guest Speakers
Claus-Peter Reisch
Captain of the sea rescue boat “Eleonore”, Mission Lifeline
Claus-Peter Reisch, born in 1961 in Landsberg am Lech, is a trained motor mechanic, business man and a sport boat enthusiast.
Claus-Peter Reisch was assigned as Captain for the organisation “Mission Lifeline” and became well-known with his boat called “Lifeline”. He was cruising several days through the Mediterranean with 234 refugees, uncertain where he will be allowed to berth. The situation on the boat was extremely challenging – hope, fear, legal complications, diminishing energy levels within the team – altogether presenting an exceptional responsibility for the captain.
Claus-Peter is a role model and a hero of the sea rescue movement. He will share his story and how the collaboration and teamwork amongst the many individuals on his ship are crucial in ensuring the survival of his refugees and the success of the mission.
Tobias Gröber
Executive Director Business Unit Consumergoods - Director ISPO Group, Messe München GmbH
Tobias Gröber has joined the Messe München GmbH in 1997. Since 2004 he is the Executive Director of the Business Unit Consumergoods at Messe München and responsible for the ISPO Group as well as for INHORGENTA MUNICH, the international trade fair for watches, jewelry and gemstones.
Within ISPO, the world’s leading sports network for business professionals and consumer experts, he is responsible for the internationalization, diversification and digitization of the ISPO portfolio. This includes the world’s largest multisegment trade fairs ISPO Munich, Beijing and Shanghai as well as the OutDoor by ISPO platform and several digital business solutions referring to ISPO.
Since 2004 he is Chairman of the German Fashion Industry Foundation – SDBI. A non-profit foundation with the goal to enhance qualitative and substantial fashion design. Tobias Gröber is married and has two children. He is a passionate sportsman and enjoys mainly swimming, running, trail running, snowboarding, skiing and hiking. He always follows his motto: ISPO – it´s not a job, it´s a way of life.
Dr. Markus Dirr
Chief Digital Officer, Messe München GmbH
Dr. Markus Dirr is a seasoned expert working in the Digital Marketing Business for over 17 years. His focus is on topics of the future such as Big Data, Multichannel and data-driven Marketing. Markus Dirr founded his first company at the age of 14. Besides his successful work in data-driven marketing, he started various projects focussed on business intelligence. Markus Dirr held leading positions at aventris eSales AG and reBuy.com prior to joining Messe München in the role of Chief Digital Officer in 2017.
