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The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, UFI and MAD Event Management hosted the inaugural Global Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., on May 29. The invitation-only forum brought together leaders from across the global business and professional events industry, public policy experts, diplomats and other key stakeholders for a focused dialogue on key cross-border policy issues shaping the future of exhibitions, meetings, conventions, trade shows, conferences and more.
"The Global Policy Forum was designed to leverage international best practices, policy examples and more to help inform policymaking in the U.S.," said Tommy Goodwin, president and CEO of the ECA, following the event. "From the discussions, there were many good international examples and case studies that the ECA will explore with policymakers for U.S. applicability. Perhaps even more importantly, industry and inside-the-Beltway participants alike agreed that we need more forums like this to surface and share potential solutions to the global challenges the industry faces."
Concentrating on trade and tariffs
The Global Policy Forum program focused on two key topics with significant implications for business and professional events taking place across the globe: trade and tariffs, with an emphasis on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and sustainability.
According to the ECA, as part of the program, 24 international business, policy and media experts examined current transnational and multilateral challenges and explored how better cooperation, alignment and constructive public-sector engagement across borders can enable the industry's next phase of global growth. Those participants were:
- Melissa Arnott, president of the Canadian Association of Exposition Management
- Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group
- Ed Brzytwa, vice president of International Trade for the Consumer Technology Association
- Shawn Cheng, regional director of North America for the International Congress and Convention Association
- Martha Donato, founder and president of MAD Event Management
- Alexandra Failla, corporate sustainability manager, Diversified Communications
- Marsha Flanagan, president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events
- Marty Glynn, CEO and partner at MAD Event Management
- Tommy Goodwin, president and CEO of the ECA
- J. Brady Howell, senior policy advisor for Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck
- Andy Karellas, executive director of the State International Development Organizations
- Joyce Leveston, CMM, CEO of the Javits Center
- Adrian Lopez Ruiz, managing director of Informa Markets Mexico
- Richard Perkins, president and CEO of The Perkins Co.
- Janice Rogers, chief people officer for Diversified Communications
- Maddy Ryley, managing editor, Trade Show Executive
- Hervé Sedky, president and CEO of Emerald Holdings
- Chris Skeith, managing director and CEO, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
- Dennis Smith, president and CEO of NürnbergMesse North America
- Iain Stirling, international portfolio director of Mash Media
- Phil Stone, partner at Plural Strategy
- Sasha Sutcliffe-Stephenson, president of SSS Public Affairs
- Tracy Tolk, policy director for Brownstein Hyatt Faber Schreck
- Danica Tormohlen, vice president of group content for Informa Markets
"UFI was proud to support the Global Policy Forum as an important convening of event industry leaders and policy stakeholders from across the globe," said Chris Skeith of UFI. "The discussions reinforced the critical role that exhibitions, trade shows and conferences play in driving economic growth, innovation and international collaboration. North America represents one of the largest and most influential markets for our industry worldwide, and gatherings like this help advance UFI's global advocacy efforts by strengthening engagement with policymakers and industry leaders across the region."
The Global Policy Forum followed ECA Legislative Action Day 2026, which brought industry leaders and advocates to Capitol Hill the prior day for meetings with members of Congress. Together, notes the ECA, the two events underscored the vital importance of policy engagement for a global industry that drives commerce, creates jobs, connects markets and helps solve urgent societal challenges around the world.