Leader
Chief writer’s letter
The weak make way for the strong.
Evolution marches on. The scythe is
remorseless.
So says Johnson from TV sitcom
Peep Show – words that spring to mind
as the relentless march of time brings
the UK a different Johnson as Prime
Minister, and AEN a new chief writer.
That’s me! And yes, you read that
right – AEN, not AEM. You hold in your
trembling hands the first issue of the
newly-rebranded Association Event
Network, previously Association Event
Manager.
Martin Fullard, Conference News’
editor, has put the creation of this
quarterly magazine into my charge,
and I’d like to thank him for the
opportunity. We’re attempting to
refresh the identity of the magazine,
and the change in name is to coincide
with the creation of our new website,
also Association Event Network, which
you can find at www.aenetwork.co.uk.
The website is a hub of news,
features, blogs and information
for association PCOs/organisers.
It will also be updated in the very
near future to include a discussion
forum, where you can all share your
collective wisdom. Or just have a bit
of a moan.
As the magazine takes on a more
colourful, modern design and a new
chief writer, it seems fitting that our
focus shifts to the issue of young
Editorial
Editor:
Martin Fullard
Chief writer:
Stuart Wood
Business
Managing director:
Julian Agostini
Group publishing
director:
Liz Agostini
people joining associations.
My experiences in the association
world have proven it to be lacking
involvement from the younger
generations. Some associations don’t
know how to speak to a younger
audience, and some simply don’t
care – but many are missing a huge
opportunity. For our cover feature,
we speak to a selection of events
students and young association
members to shine a light on the topic.
Elsewhere, we interview former
ICCA president Martin Sirk, now a
consultant in the association sector
as Sirk Serendipity. In a twist of
AEN serendipity, we find out that
Sirk has just launched a mentorship
programme for young people with
Global Association Hubs, his latest
advisory project. He fills us in on this
and more on pages 10-13.
If you see me out and about, make
sure to say hello – and please send
any of your association-related
stories, case studies and questions to
[email protected].
Contents
Come and join the
greatest show on earth
page 5
Upcoming
page 6
The next generation
page 8-9
All in a day’s Sirk
page 10-13
Swipe right
page 15-17
Dear Rob…
page 18
3
Digital
Enjoy the issue!
Designer:
Kateryna Smirnova
Production manager:
Elizabeth Nixon
Subscriptions
Subscriptions executive:
Matthew Williams
Website:
aenetwork.co.uk
Stuart Wood
Chief writer,
Association Event
Network
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www.aenetwork.co.uk
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