The vibrancy of the country’s business events sector continues to flourish as Meet in Malaysia @ Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) made a strong statement with its theme “Rebuilding Confidence”.
Officiated by YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Malaysia, the flagship event of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), MBEW recently took place on the 24 – 25 August at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur and saw around 250 delegates attending the event.
“I would like to commend MyCEB and industry players for building a solid ground before the pandemic hit and I am very sure that once it is time to fully bounce back, Malaysia will be on the top list of destinations given that we have time and time again, made headlines of one of the most effective countries in handling COVID-19. Not only we can “Rebuild Confidence” well, but I am assured that we can maintain it.” said YB Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri.
The theme “Rebuilding Confidence” is about rebuilding the confidence and to make business events as what is was used to be before the virus outbreak. MyCEB wants to always ensure that Malaysia forges ahead progressively as Asia’s Business Events Hub. This year, MBEW is on a hybrid mode to make opportunities for our international partners and industry players outside of Malaysia to join and be a part of the event due to the international borders are still closed.
The objective of this year’s Meet in Malaysia @ MBEW theme is to get everyone from different industries to share thoughts and debate issues on the future of business events. Other than business events industry and tourism sector, this year MyCEB also initiated a slot for the media people to share their experience and the challenges they had to go through since Movement Control Order (MCO) starts few months ago.
“Our strategy through Meet in Malaysia @ Malaysia Business Events Week is to create impactful platform for industry players to gather and share knowledge on how to stimulate the economy. Business Events stakeholders must take preventive measures by complying SOPs to build up confidence on Malaysia domestically and internationally.” said Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, Chief Executive Officer of MyCEB.
The event was also graced by the presence of YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Noor Zari bin Hamat, Secretary General of MOTAC and Chairman of MyCEB together with YBrs. Encik Mohd Zamri Zain, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism) of MOTAC.
“Despite the pandemic of Covid-19 that we are facing at the moment, all of our industry players continue to be great pillars of support for us. The ministry has come up with a transformation agenda that will focus on efforts to increase revenue, secure partnerships and investments, empower local communities and ensure the sustainability and resilience of the industry. It will consist of six key strategies, namely strengthening governance capacity, creating special tourism investment zones, embracing digitalisation, enhancing visitor sophistication, strengthening commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism and up skilling the human capital in the industry. I hope for the people to be safe and healthy, for businesses to weather the situation and for economies to be vibrant again,” said Mohd Zamri Zain, Deputy Secretary General (Tourism) of MOTAC.
Meet in Malaysia @ Malaysia Business Events Week was also presented by a line of business events’ inspiring speakers such as Noor Ahmadrepresenting International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia Pacific, Angeline van den Broake, Director of Global Business Development & Marketing Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Adlina Borhan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of AB&Artho.
MBEW is held annually and is a strategic platform built for industry players and stakeholders to share thoughts, skills and experience that gives impact to the development and sustainability of the business events industry. MBEW is also a platform that gets the industry players to gather and seek opportunities and gain knowledge about business events in every perspective.
Meet in Malaysia @ Malaysia Business Events Week this year had inspired more industry players to not give up at times of crisis. Forums and panel sessions shared guidelines that would help to make sure that every industry players can sustain at such unprecedented times.
Day 1:
Passion is Energy!
Panel Speakers :
- YBhg Datuk K. Rajagobal, Ex-Head Coach, National Football Team of Malaysia
- Prof Ir. Dr. Dominic Foo, President-Elect, Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE)
- Ho De Leong, Chairman, Waste Management Association of Malaysia
Moderator:
- Angeline van den Broecke, Director of Global Business Development & Marketing Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Recorded Live Streaming Session for Passion is Energy:
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) MICE forum – In Crisis, There is Hope and Opportunity
The forum discusses on how to harness motivation towards health, happiness, and lasting success that leaves audiences with tools to be better leaders and managers, and create a culture of creative, connected and motivated people.
Panel Speakers:
- YBhg. Dato’ Dr. Noor Zari bin Hamat, Secretary General, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia
- Andrew Hiebl, CEO, Association of Australian Convention Bureaux Inc
- Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau
- Tina Altieri, Founder & Principal Managing Partner, Media Australasia Xchange (MAX)
- Yumi Yasuda, MICE Department Deputy Director, Chiba Convention Bureau
- Jessy Chahal, TV Anchor (Current Affairs) BERNAMA TV
Recorded Live Streaming Session for APEC MICE forum- In Crisis, There is Hope and Opportunity:
Energizer: Race Around Malaysia
Energizer, Race Around Malaysia Online, an immersive remote team building experience catered to bring you on a virtual adventure around the country from the comforts of your home or office. Compete with others to score points by performing challenges, all within the GO Team App powered by Catalyst Team Building.
Speaker: Mark Stanley, Training Consultant, Asia Ability.
Recorded Live Streaming Session for Energizer- Race Around Malaysia:
Sustainability in Today’s Meetings Business
Speaker: Noor Ahmad Hamid, Regional Director Asia Pacific, International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA).
When the Going Gets Tough…
Panel Speakers:
- Charles Perera, Manager, Pacific & Orient Insurance Co Bhd & Council Member of Live Festivals & Events Association (ALIFE)
- Kenneth Fong, Sales Director, Messe Worldwide Sdn Bhd & Vice-President (Exhibition), MACEOS
- Marlysa Razak, Partner, Richard Wee Chambers
- Para Rajagopal, Founder of PR Worldwide & Chairman of Arts, Live Festivals & Events Association (ALIFE)
- Cynthia Martin, Director, Bespoke Marketing Sdn Bhd
Recorded Live Streaming Session for When the Going Gets Tough:
Evolution of Business Events
- YBhg. Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, CEO, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau
- YBhg. Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam, Executive Director, World Trade Centre, Malaysia & Chair of the Asia Pacific Member Advisory Council for conference and exhibitions, The World Trade Center Association (WTCA)
- Janet Tan-Collis, Founder & CEO, East West Planners Singapore Pte Ltd & Immediate Past President of SACEOS
- Martin Boyle, CEO, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO)
- Noor Ahmad Hamid, Regional Director, ICCA Asia Pacific
Recorded Live Streaming Session for Evolution of Business Events:
BE Calls the Shots!
Panel Speakers
- Dee Dee Quah, Director, Medical Conference Partners
- Eric Ho, Executive Director, Pico International Malaysia
- Gandhi Muthiah, Founder & Honorary Chairman – ASEAN, Informa Markets
- Lau Yin May, Group Chief Marketing & Customer Experience Officer, Malaysia Airlines
- Mala Dorasamy, Director – Marketing & Sales, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC)
- Para Rajagopal, Founder of PR Worldwide & Chairman of Arts, Live Festivals & Events Association (ALIFE)
- Richard Soo, Managing Director, MEP Meeting & Exhibition Planners
- Yap Sook Ling, Managing Director, Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel
- Angeline van den Broecke, Director of Global Business Development & Marketing Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
Recorded Live Streaming Session for BE Calls the Shots:
Day 2:
Hanging Out With My Best-Tea!
Panel Speakers
- Gerard Leeuwenburgh, General Manager, Informa Markets Malaysia
- Ng Wai Yee, Lecturer, Taylor’s School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events (Exhibition), Faculty of Social Sciences & Leisure Management
- Bridgette Gan, Student, Sunway University
- Eileen Emily, Student, Sunway University
- Rahul Bharadwaj, Co-Founder & Director, Technology & Operations, Anderes Fourdy Sdn Bhd
Recorded Live Streaming Session for Hanging Out with My Best-Tea!:
Jazzing Up with the Media
Panel Speakers
- Syamil Fahim Mohamed Fahim, Chief Executive Officer, Nu Ideaktiv Sdn Bhd
- Prof. Madya Dr. Chang Peng Kee, Associate Professor of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
- Gerard Ratnam, Executive Producer / Anchor BTV, BERNAMA
Recorded Live Streaming Session for Jazzing Up with Media:
WORKSHOP: “You + Me = Co-creation”
Speaker: Adlina Borhan, CEO & Co-Founder, AB & Artho Tourism Marketing & PR
Day 4:
IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organisers) Malaysia PCO (Professional Congress Organiser) Continued Professional Development Programme
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre played host to the hybrid engagement connecting professional congress organisers and meeting planners with the CEO and Council Member of IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organisers) for an immersive workshop centred on the IAPCO webEDGE, an online professional education programme initiated by MyCEB in partnership with the Centre. The IAPCO WebEDGE platform is specifically designed for Malaysia-based Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) by providing globally accredited training, which is customised to enhance their professionalism and raise their capacity and capability to meet the current and future industry expectation, needs and demands.
As a digital learning platform, WebEDGE enables meeting professionals from any discipline to access a fully immersive 14-course congress project management package such as budgets, cultural intelligence, negotiations, risk & crisis management and many more. The modules will be presented by 24 meeting industry experts from IAPCO accredited member companies and is approved by the Events Industry Council for a total of 15.25 CMP clock hours. All content is delivered by meetings industry experts using real-life case studies which will be readily accessible anytime, anywhere. According to IAPCO, the programme should take six months to a year to complete, depending on how fast the applicants are able to complete the modules.Those who complete the programme will receive a diploma that can set them on the path to be an IAPCO certified PCO, the highest level of industry certification.
IAPCO Malaysia PCO Continued Professional Development Programme concluded on a high note with key messages on the importance of embarking on the IAPCO webEDGE online education platform as a stepping stone to obtaining IAPCO certification. Being a IAPCO certified PCO, professional congress organiser will command global recognition and respect, as well as will enhance the standard of professionalism in the meeting industry and elevate Malaysia as a key player in the global convention arena to another level, all of which results in a higher economic impact to the country.
For Recorded Live Streaming of IAPCO Malaysia PCO Continued Professional Development Programme:
For more information on webEDGE, please visit www.myceb.com.my/IAPCO