Everyone counts – ‘She Means Business’ digs into diversity at IMEX 2019

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, says: “The meetings industry has both a desire and a need to understand and reflect human diversity more fully. I believe that over the past few years, we have seen much greater interest in, and understanding of, these issues and opportunities. The next step is to start to more consciously and consistently factor in a more diverse range of people into meetings, events and conference programmes, with the goal that this becomes second-nature for all of us over time.”

Diversity and inclusion are the linchpin of She Means Business, created in partnership with tw tagungswirtschaft and part of EduMonday, a programme of free learning and development taking place on Monday 20 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt opens.

Anne Kjær Riechert, co-founder of a non-profit social enterprise teaching digital skills to refugees and migrants, launches She Means Business – and EduMonday – with a keynote, sponsored by H-Hotels and open to all EduMonday attendees. In her keynote ‘Grit and Grace’ Riechert will share the story of how she founded and grew the ReDI School of Digital Integration and her work as mentor and ambassador for the Grace Female Accelerator which supports female-led start-ups.

Men – your voices are important too

She Means Business then continues with an afternoon of sessions where women – and men – from across the world will share their experiences and lessons on gender equality or other diversity challenges. Senior Executives from organizations including PWC, Deutsche Bank and Lufthansa HR Management, Eurometropole de Strasbourg, Rwanda Convention and Melbourne Convention will be among the speakers.

Planners, buyers and other visitors can then explore destinations, venues, tech providers and more at IMEX in Frankfurt from 21 – 23 May 2019. Among the many exhibitors already confirmed are New Zealand, Senses of Cuba, Barcelona Convention Bureau, Visit Brussels, Kempinski Hotels, Meliá Hotels and Latvia.

During the three days of the IMEX trade show, buyers can meet with more than 3,500 suppliers from every sector of the global meetings and events industry.

She Means Business, part of EduMonday, takes place on Monday 20 May, the day before IMEX in Frankfurt, 21 -23 May 2019. It’s free to enter once you’ve registered for IMEX in Frankfurt.