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Incredible Impacts Programme results in double win for Ireland
I reland has strengthened its reputation as a leading destination for transformative business events, securing two major awards at the ICCA Congress through the ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance Incredible Impacts Programme. Both conferences listed below which were hosted in Ireland, were recognised for delivering exceptional social impact and legacy.
• Main Grant Winner: World Rural Health Conference( WONCA) 2022, led by Professor Liam Glynn and held at the University of Limerick, earned the $ 20,000 Main Grant for its commitment to improving healthcare access in rural communities worldwide.
• Seed Grant Winner: Autism- Europe, in partnership with AsIAm, Ireland’ s Autism Charity, received the $ 5,000 Seed Grant for its 14th International Autism – Europe Congress, led by Adam Harris. The Incredible Impacts Programme, a global initiative by ICCA and
BestCities, celebrates associations that create lasting positive change through international meetings.
World Rural Health Conference 2022 Hosted at the University of Limerick and led by Professor and Conference Ambassador Liam Glynn, the WONCA World Rural Health Conference was themed“ Improving Health, Empowering Communities.” The event brought together experts from health, science, engineering, arts, and NGOs to address rural healthcare challenges. Ireland, with one of Europe’ s largest rural populations, provided an ideal backdrop for this global dialogue. Organised by the University of Limerick’ s School of Medicine in partnership with WONCA, the Irish College of General Practitioners, and Rural, Island and Dispensing Doctors of Ireland, the conference showcased leadership and collaboration at its best. Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, in collaboration with The Shannon Region Conference
Left: Main Grant Finalists- ICCA and BestCities Incredible Impacts Programme
& Sports Bureau and University of Limerick, supported Rural WONCA 2022 – a conference that promoted longterm sustainability in rural healthcare across Ireland, changing attitudes, lives, health and ultimately, the world.
Professor Liam Glynn captivated the audience at the ICCA Congress 2025 with a compelling presentation focused on the impact of Rural WONCA, which led to this remarkable win.
The full case study can be found at https:// www. meetinireland. com / conferences / case-studies / world-ruralhealth-conference-limerick-2022
“ We are honoured to receive the Best Cities and ICCA Incredible Impacts Main Grant Award. This achievement reflects an exceptional collaboration between Fáilte Ireland, the University of Limerick Conference and Sports Campus, the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, the WONCA Working Party on Rural Practice, the Rural Island and Dispensing Doctors of Ireland, the Irish College of GPs, and rural GPs and communities themselves. Through this partnership, Rural WONCA 2022 evolved into a truly impactful conference, leaving a lasting social legacy that continues to transform rural healthcare today” says Liam Glynn, Professor of General Practice, at the University of Limerick
Autism-Europe Congress 2025 Hosted by Autism-Europe, in partnership with AsIAm, Ireland’ s autism charity, the 14th International Autism-Europe Congress was held in Dublin in September 2025.
The event welcomed over 1,800 participants, including Autistic individuals, families, researchers, and advocates from across Europe and beyond.
Working with Fáilte Ireland, AsIAm implemented an intentional impact project to measure and maximise the congress’ s positive outcomes, with support from Keynote PCO. With this
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