The American Society for Association Executives announced a strengthened partnership with the International Congress and Convention Association. Together, the organizations aim to expand opportunities for engagement and knowledge-sharing between international meeting professionals and association leaders.
The partnership will focus on peer-to-peer learning, including collaboration on ASAE's Global Summit on the State of the Association Community and other legacy programs. The organizations will also look for joint exhibiting opportunities and additional ways to support the global community.
"The role of associations is rapidly changing and many of the meta trends influencing ASAE's strategic direction are shared by our global colleagues," said ASAE president and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. "This reality necessitates more collaborative thinking and idea sharing between leaders of organizations worldwide. ASAE's collaboration with ICCA is an acknowledgement that no one organization has all the answers. Together, we will work to enhance the collective knowledge of the association ecosystem and better unify our vast global association community."
The news comes one week after ASAE formalized a similar collaborative agreement with its European counterpart, ESAE, which will also improve access to content and a wider community for global association leaders.
The partnership between ASAE and ESAE will center on developing content that serves the needs of both U.S. and European-based association executive leaders. Collaborative-learning opportunities will include ASAE's Global Summit on the State of the Association Community, scheduled for Aug. 20, just prior to the ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition in Nashville. Also on the calendar is a virtual CEO-level program this spring that will include leadership from both organizations, as well as a virtual program for association CEOs on both continents that will explore practical approaches to navigating today's biggest challenges.
"The ESAE board is delighted to be working closely with ASAE under Michelle Mason’s leadership," said Mike Morrissey, chief executive of the European Cancer Organisation and ESAE president. "We are looking forward to collaborating on content that is relevant for our members on both sides of the Atlantic. Although there are cultural differences, there are many similar challenges and opportunities for associations based in Europe and the U.S. By sharing our experience, we believe we can all benefit during these times of change."
