By Mindy Noonan
The Events Industry Council (EIC), the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition and standards, announced the election of officers and directors to its 2023 Board of Directors. IAVM President and CEO Brad Mayne, CVE, will serve on the 2023 Board.
Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President and CEO, PCMA and CEMA transitions to Chair of EIC, having held the role 
of Chair-Elect in 2022.
“As the global federation that powers the Certified Meeting Professional and Sustainable Event Standards, and provides crucial guidance on sustainability and regeneration, EIC has a unique leadership role in our industry,” Karamat said. “I look forward to working with the EIC team, members and strategic partners on issues that are truly fundamental to our industry’s strength and growth.”
Karamat will be supported by incoming Chair-Elect, Ana María Viscasillas, Federación de Entidades Organizadoras de Congresos y Afines de Latino América, Board Liaison and Immediate Past Vice President for COCAL.
“I look forward to working alongside Sherrif in his role as Chair to support the EIC mission of enriching lives and driving economic growth through the power of events worldwide,” Viscasillas said.
This year, EIC will continue to provide valuable research on industry trends. In the first quarter EIC will release results of its quarterly Global Business Events Barometer and Economic Significance Study. In April, EIC welcomes the in-person return of an event exclusively for the CMP community: CMP Advance and will also host its first EIC Leadership Summit to foster peer-to-peer conversation, connections, and leadership on key issues facing our industry.
“With the support of our members, partners, volunteer leaders, CMP and SEPC community, this is going to be a very exciting year at the Events Industry Council as we continue to lead and engage in global dialogue and collaboration,” said EIC CEO Amy Calvert. “These programmes will unite industry thought leaders from across the globe to engage in dialogue around equity, inclusion, regenerative event practices and building capabilities for our workforce.
“At EIC, we embrace our role catalysing needed change in our sector and sharing our story broadly as events play an essential role as a force for good in our global society – inspiring our current and future workforce.”
EIC board members are nominated members of the overall Events Industry Council that consists of more than 30 organisations in the events industry. These leaders are the governing body for the overall council with fiscal responsibility and strategic direction for all EIC programmes.
The full board is listed below:
2023 Board of Directors Officers:
Chair: Sherrif Karamat, CAE –President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA
Chair-Elect: Ana María Viscasillas, MBA, CDME, DES, CED – Federación de Entidades
Organizadoras de Congresos y Afines de Latino América, Board Liaison and immediate Past Vice President COCAL
Immediate Past Chair: Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE – International Association of Exhibitions and Events, COO and Center for Exhibition Industry Research, CEO
2023 Board of Directors:
Jason Dunn Sr., Executive Director – National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals
Jennifer Glynn, CIS, CITP – Society for Incentive Travel Excellence
Senthil Gopinath, CEO – International Congress and Convention Association
Stephanie Harris, President – The Incentive Research Foundation
Brad Mayne, CVE, President and CE – International Association of Venue Managers
Tina Wehmeir, CMP, CAE, CEO – AMC Institute
