As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the business events space must adapt —not by offering bigger, more dazzling conferences, but by seriously rethinking the how and who of event planning. This call for change resonated throughout the recent International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) conference I attended alongside SAACI CEO Glenton de Kock, with one particular focus that stands out: How do we build truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive events?

One of ICCA programme’s highlights was a white paper the Future Leaders Council – of which I am the African representative – spent months crafting. It’s essentially a toolkit that breaks down standards of diversity and inclusion at every stage of an event and will soon be rolled out across international platforms, providing specific, actionable steps that professionals like us – conference organisers, venue managers, and suppliers – can implement immediately. Now, anyone planning a business event in southern Africa and beyond can assess their process by asking: are we genuinely representing diverse voices? Are we making our venues accessible to all? Do our suppliers reflect an inclusive mindset?

Mentorship opportunities like the BE Ambassadors Programme offer a tangible way of putting these principles into practice. I had the privilege of mentoring six students as part of the programme (which empowered a total of 60 students). These young professionals were from across the world, with ambitions in business events and tourism, shadowing me throughout the conference. This hands-on learning, coupled with access to top leaders in our space, gave these students a real edge. It was also a reminder that the industry’s future is already here, quietly watching, learning, and ready to take the reins.

Now more than ever, I see the critical need to support and carve out pathways for young talent, particularly from regions where barriers still exist. Students barely have access to the financial resources required to attend these conferences. Yet, they are our future decision-makers and are well-informed by AI technology in event management and environmental sustainability, which opens new doors for our sector.

Hosting large global events is only half the battle. The other half is ensuring we’re developing future African event planners, tourism professionals, and event consultants who can stand confidently on the global stage, making their mark internationally while understanding local dynamics. ICCA recognised this by allowing students to attend free of charge: a small but impactful gesture.

With nearly 1 600 international delegates in attendance, the ICCA event was truly a global affair. It was equally a proud moment every time I noticed strong southern African representation. From our largest convention centres and convention bureaus, to SAACI members and key local suppliers, we weren’t shy in standing tall amongst our international peers. For us to sustain this momentum, we need to continually localise worldwide shifts, especially around technology, governance, and inclusivity, to better serve our regional business events industry.

We have the opportunity to dictate the future ­— let’s ensure we do so in a way that defines who we are as southern Africans… and the global leaders we aim to become.