Interview execute it with excellence. At its core, our focus remains the same: delivering meaningful value for our customers, driving sustainable growth for our business, and creating development and growth opportunities for our teams. space and create even greater value for our customers. There is so much we can share and learn from one another, and this collaboration will not only enhance the partnership, but also the experience and outcomes we deliver to the communities we support.
EW: Now, as APAC president, how is that role different and what are the burning issues in your inbox there? Stepping into the APAC president role naturally brings greater scale, but the core opportunities and challenges remain very similar. What’ s encouraging is that, across the region, the opportunities clearly outweigh the challenges.
We have a strong strategy in place for APAC, and our priority now is excellence in execution. I’ m confident in our ability to deliver on that, our teams are energised, capable, and ready to take on what’ s ahead.
One of the most rewarding parts of this role is seeing the distinct strengths each market has developed. A key focus for me is ensuring we share those areas of excellence across all our APAC business units. By doing that, we create more value for our customers while also opening up new growth and development opportunities for our teams, as our experts contribute their knowledge across the region.
Many of the challenges we face in APAC are similar to those experienced globally, which gives us a real advantage. We can draw on
RX’ s global resources and expertise to find common solutions and ensure we’ re consistently delivering highquality outcomes for our customers and communities.
EW: Do you foresee any major change of emphasis in strategy from the course pursued by Chien Ee? And, if so, what would be your priorities and challenges? I’ ve had the privilege of working closely with Chien Ee for many years, both as part of his Senior Leadership Team and directly reporting to him. Chien Ee has done an outstanding job leading RX APAC, and he leaves the business in a very strong position. We are deeply grateful for his leadership and the impact he has had on both the organisation and the team.
Our APAC strategy has been shaped collaboratively with our managing directors across the region, and it is well understood and well aligned. Because of that shared ownership, there’ s no need for any major shift in direction.
My role now is to ensure that our strategy stays relevant as the market evolves, and that we
EW: APAC is of huge importance for the global exhibition sector – indeed the UFI clans have been gathering there only recently for the association’ s Global Congress in Hong Kong. Where are the hotspots and what are the factors that organisers need to be aware of when looking to produce successful shows in the region? Success in APAC always starts with having the right team and a deep understanding of the local market. The region is incredibly diverse, staying close to our customers and how their needs are evolving is essential to delivering real value.
Across APAC, we’ re seeing significant shifts in supply chains, with some industries moving or building dual supply chains to manage risk. These changes are reshaping investment patterns and creating fresh opportunities for the region. For organisers, this opens the door to develop new exhibitions, commercial platforms, and thought-leadership forums that help industries connect and adapt. At the same time, these shifts can present challenges for longestablished events that need to evolve to stay relevant.
Efficiency and agility are critical. We need to test new ideas, explore innovative operating models, and make full use of global best practices and infrastructure. Being able to move quickly and intelligently will be essential for success. Most importantly, we need leaders across the region who are smart, resilient, and adaptable, people who can respond confidently to changing market conditions and help their teams seize the opportunities ahead. EW
48 Issue 6 2025 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk