SEC Insights: Heather Lishman - ABPCO - Membership Organisations

Membership organisations are present in every industry, every country and every city all over the world. Of course, the event industry is no exception – but how can members maximise their membership and drive change across the industry?

The Scottish Event Campus is a member of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), and we sat down with its Director, Heather Lishman, for a quick chat.
 

“We know that the world is full of information at everyone’s fingertips, but ultimately, we are humans and we like to interact. Face to face communication is enriching to us (as we know, in the events business!) and this is where professional organisations, in any industry, come into their own.

“These organisations give members the opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals, to learn from peers, to develop a support network and membership accreditation to improve integrity in the marketplace.

“Before choosing an organisation to join, consider exactly what your goals are. What do you want to get out of being a member and think about which organisation will help you to achieve those ambitions. I also believe it’s important to align your values – you should be proud to be a member of whichever organisation you choose.

“I’m a firm believer in getting out of any organisation what you put in. Making sure that your membership profiles are updated, interacting frequently with the organisation and attending as many events that you can will help to maximise your invested time and money. It sounds simple but it makes a huge difference.

“At ABPCO, we make it as easy as possible for our members to reap the benefits with a range of events including Roundtables, the Member Conference and AGM, Chairmen’s Lunch & Excellence Awards and a number of FAM trips.

“One of our key goals is to create a sense of belonging which helps to open up communications channels between members. As a result, members can achieve their own goals through easy access to peers and relevant information.

“This sense of belonging also creates a safe place for organisers to seek advice, best practice and recognition for creating and delivering successful, memorable conferences. It’s important for event professionals to feel that they have somewhere to go outside of their own event bubble.

“Of course, there are industry-wide goals which ABPCO and all members are striving towards, including sustainability, social responsibility and talent recruitment and retention. Getting involved in a membership organisation can allow you to contribute to the conversation and drive the industry towards positive change – that’s really the ultimate benefit to any member.”