Programme

International experience shows that for a country to achieve its economic development goals, increase inward investment, boost its image from a social and tourism perspective, and become more competitive, it needs an effective marketing strategy. This strategy should be targeted at both the domestic and international markets, and support a comprehensive solution to these challenges, and one of the most effective tools for promoting and positioning a region globally is engaging industry. However, Russia’s share of the global international business event market is less than 1%. Can Russia become a leader in the global meetings industry and what needs to be done to support the effective development of the meetings industry in Russia? Which successful international events should serve as an example for marketing regions and Russia as a whole? What role should the government play in developing the event industry in Russia? What multiplier effect can organizing events have on local development?

Moderator:
Paul Colston , Managing Editor, Conference News

Paul Colston

Managing Editor, Conference News

Paul Colston is an award-winning journalist and editor based in the UK. He is currently managing editor of the conference portfolio at Mash Media Group. Paul has also been editor of Conference News and Conference & Meetings World magazines since 2005 and has regularly appeared on and chaired panels and forums on topics connected with the global meetings industry. Most recently Paul has chaired MICE industry discussions on training and apprenticeships for young event professionals at International Confex, as well as panels for the Meeting Industry Association (on Brexit). Paul has also written about MICE industry issues for features in The Guardian and Times newspapers in the UK and has contributed to programmes on the BBC concerning MICE industry topics. Paul is a fluent Russian language speaker – with a degree in Russian Studies from Manchester University - and has worked also as an editor specialising in investment and trade with Central and Eastern Europe. He has also worked as an editor for the Novosti news agency in the agency’s London bureau. Paul has also headed a specialist consultancy dealing with Russia and Ukraine business and trade, including sporting and education exchanges.

Panellists
Ramesh Abhishek , Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India
Sergey Alexeev , President, Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs; Executive President (Outgoing President), UFI The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry
David Bodor , Regional Director Europe, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)
Sergey Voronkov , General Director, ExpoForum International
Alexey Kalachev , Head of Project, Russian Convention Bureau
Christian Mutschlechner , Chief Executive Officer, Vienna Convention Bureau

Sergey Alexeev

President, Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs; Executive President (Outgoing President), UFI The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry

Sergey Alexeev was born on October 16, 1947 in Leningrad. He graduated from the Plekhanov Mineral Resources Institute of Leningrad and has completed business courses in Hamburg (Germany) and Osaka (Japan). From 1986 to 2012, he was Director General, JSC “Lenexpo”. From 2012 to 2014 he was Vice-President of “ExpoForum.” Since 2014, Sergey Alexeev is currently Vice-President of “ExpoForum Internation”. Vice-chairman of the Council of Saint-Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Since 2005, Sergey Alexeev is Honorary Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in Saint-Petersburg. Sergey Alexeev has been the elected President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF) since 1991. It is in his capacity as President of RUEF that his colleagues have selected him to a one year term as President of UFI beginning in November 2015. He is Chairman of the Exhibition committee of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. Since 1999, vice Chair of the European Chapter. Since 2008, he has been the Chair of the European Regional Chapter of UFI, the Global Association of Exhibition Industry. He began his rotation on the UFI Presidential trio in November 2014 as UFI Incoming President and now he is Executive Vice President of UFI. Awarded with state awards.

David Bodor

Regional Director Europe, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA)

David leads ICCA’s European Office and is tasked with the sustainable growth of the association within the region. He is responsible for the approximately 550 European member organisations that the association has, facilitating business opportunities and knowledge sharing. David draws on a decade of experience in the field of destination marketing, where he has held strategic and operational management positions. Prior to that he has worked in various positions in advertising, entertainment and business. David has studied at Leiden University and Utrecht University and holds a degree in Law and Economics.

Sergey Voronkov

General Director, ExpoForum International

Born on 30 September 1965 in Orenburg. Education: Graduated from the Electromechanical Department at the Orenburg Polytechnical Institute, the Graduate School of the Moscow Youth Institute (Moscow University for the Humanities) (with a PhD in Economics), and the Higher School of Management at St. Petersburg State University (with an MBA). Key work positions: 1990–1995 – Chairman of the Committee for Youth Affairs, Orenburg Municipal Administration. 1995–1998 – Head of the Innovation Department at the Committee for Family, Childhood and Youth Affairs, St. Petersburg Municipal Administration. 1998–2004 – Director for Commerce and Development, Petersburg-Express LLC. 2004–2006 – Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Press and Mass-Media Relations, St. Petersburg Municipal Administration. 2006–2011 – Director of Restec Group Enterprises. 2011–2013 – Executive Director of ExpoForum CJSC. Since 20 September 2013 – CEO of ExpoForum International.

Alexey Kalachev

Head of Project, Russian Convention Bureau

Has a vast experience in largest private companies and government bodies. Draws on 15 years in communications, event and project management, which includes organizing and managing Russian and international event projects, exhibitions and conferences, as well as public relations. His main focus is efficient cooperation with event industry players, such as private companies, international industry associations, Russian and foreign state companies, as well as partners representing other industries. Has held a number of large events both in Russian and foreign venues and provided communications support for government bodies and private companies. Has worked outside Russia, focusing on event industry, business contacts and organizing exhibitions and congresses for both Russian and foreign participants.

Christian Mutschlechner

Chief Executive Officer, Vienna Convention Bureau

Christian Mutschlechner, born 26 July 1953, is married and has three children. After his studies he started his professional career in 1978 as a Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) organizing conferences in Austria, Hungary, Germany and Canada. In 1985 he joined the Vienna Tourist Board and in 1991, when the Convention Bureau became an own department, he took over as director of the Vienna Convention Bureau. Since then he rengineered the Vienna Convention Bureau. Together with 11 staff members the Vienna Convention Bureau achieved to become one of the leading bureaus in the world. He was responsible to create the first city wide meetign industry statistics and to start with an economical evaluation of the Vienna meeting industry. He is acting President of the Austrian Convention Bureau and was previously President of the European Federation of Conference Towns and between 2002 – 2006 president of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). He is active in teaching and educating young people in the meeting industry and regular lecturer with the ECM Summer School, AIPC Academy and the ICCA AMP. His has received a number of awards for his active contribution to the meeting industry such as the Joint Meeting Industry Council Unity Award 2010, the Membership in the Hall of Leaders of the Convention Industry Council 2011, the IMEX Academy Award 2013 and recently the IBTM World Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.

Front row participants:
Elena Myakotnikova , Corporate Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Elena Myakotnikova

Corporate Director, Agency for Strategic Initiatives

Born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamchatka Territory. She graduated from Ordzhonikidze State Management Academy in “Global Economics”. 1993–1995: Finance Director, AOZT Salvis. 1995–2000: Various posts at Arthur Andersen / Ernst and Young. 2000–2009: Financial controller, head of internal audit, Finance Director, Sonic Duo (MegaFon Moscow). 2009–2010: Vice-President of Finance, OOO Holding Company Rosgosstrakh. 2010–2012: Worked for AFK Sistema (Executive Vice-President for finance and investments at OAO AFK Sistema, Deputy General Director, head of finance, investments, and economics at OAO RTI). 2012: Adviser to the Head of the Federal Agency for State Property Management. 2013–2017: Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for State Property Management. She holds the Russian Federation Civil Service grade rank of Third Class Active State Adviser of the Russian Federation. Since April 25, 2017: Corporate Director of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives.