CHICAGO, IL – Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA announced the 2026–2027 Asia Pacific (APAC) Advisory Board, comprising 15 distinguished leaders who will help shape strategic direction and advance localized initiatives to further grow and strengthen the business events community across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
As the fastest-growing region for business events, Asia Pacific continues to lead with innovation, scale, and an ability to rapidly adopt new technologies and business models to meet highly diverse market needs. The Advisory Board’s guidance will be essential in ensuring PCMA’s education, community-building, and thought leadership remain relevant, inclusive, and impactful for members and stakeholders.
“Asia Pacific is at the forefront of innovation and growth in business events, and its influence on our global community will only continue to accelerate,” said Karamat. “The APAC Advisory Board brings together exceptional leaders who understand the opportunities and complexities of this region, and their guidance will be instrumental as we co-create education, experiences, and solutions that drive economic and social progress for our industry.”
The following leaders enter the first of a two-year term (2026–2028):
- Anna Patterson, Founder & Managing Director, Sight
- Mayumi Ninomiya, General Manager, Jack Morton Japan
Leaders serving the final year of a two-year term (2026–2027):
- Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, BEIA
- Mala Dorasamy, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre
- Philip Goh, Head, APAC Event Marketing, Intuitive
- Will Kataria, Country Head and Senior Director, Cvent
Leaders returning for an extended two-year term (2026–2028):
- Anne Jamieson, Chief Executive Officer, Saxton
- Kerry Lau, Head of Marketing, ASEAN, Oracle
- Ronald Lim, Co-Founder & Event Producer, Think Tank Productions Sdn. Bhd.
- Sakurako Ogawara, Director, Conferences, Gartner
- Shelley Ryan, Events & Incentives Manager, FUJIFILM Business Innovation Australia
- Stuart Frank, Senior Director, Strategic Events, Salesforce
- Tamsyn Barker, Managing Director, APAC, FIRST agency
Leaders serving the final year of an extended term (2026–2027):
- Genevieve Lim, Assistant Vice President, MICE & Sales, Marina Bay Sands
- Melissa Holdsworth, Chief Operating Officer, AusIMM
Global Board liaison: Deborah Caldwell, Senior Vice President, Regional Lead, APAC, Global Events, Bank of America
Staff liaison: Florence Chua, Managing Director, PCMA APAC
“The APAC Advisory Board unites exemplary business event leaders across the region who are not only accomplished leaders, but they are kindred souls who are committed to elevating the industry and profession,” said Florence Chua, PCMA Managing Director, APAC. “Their collective expertise and values ensure we remain relevant to local market needs while advancing our global mission. We are grateful for their dedication and the positive impact they have on the business events industry.”
For media inquiries from the Americas, APAC, EMEA and LATAM, please contact: Meghan Risch, PCMA Chief of Staff, Vice President, Corporate Communications
About PCMA
PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 72 countries and communities. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org.
About PCMA Foundation
The role of the Foundation of PCMA is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant-giving focused on scholarships, education, and research that will advance the business events industry. Annually, the Foundation funds over $900K in impact and, since 1985, has funded over 2,500 scholarships, 100 research studies and educational programs, and $2.7M in charitable giving.
