IMEX 2018 highlights role of women in events industry

This year’s IMEX, held in Frankfurt from 15-17 May, reignited the debate on women, events and leadership. She Means Business, a newly launched session aimed primarily at women and hosted the day before the show’s official opening, featured women sharing inspiring business stories.

The event was created in partnership with German magazine tw tagungswirtschaft, which last year launched the Pink Hour networking for women session on the showfloor.

Kirsten Wünsch, editor-in-chief of the publication said: “It’s vital for women in the events industry to have a space where they can meet, network and share ideas and best practice. They need platforms to air their concerns and it’s also inspiring for the younger generation.”

The event, which attracted close to 300 attendees - women and a few men, featured talks from Major Nicola Baumann, one of Germany’s only three female Eurofighter pilots, and Laura Winterling, former astronaut instructor and CEO of Space Time Concepts, European Astronaut Centre.

tw tagungswirtschaft once again hosted Pink Hour at its stand on the first day of the show. The session was criticised last year by some industry professionals for being outdated but Wünsch declared that with the interest in She Means Business, Pink Hour offered a more informal opportunity to network and that the colour pink was not important.

“What matters is recognising vital issues – such as the fact that there are many women working in the sector but few at the very top,” she said.

IMEX Frankfurt runs from May 15-17 at Messe Frankfurt Halls 8 and 9.