Boardroom Association Podcast

What Really Matters in 2026? Part Two

In Part II of the Boardroom Association Podcast's 2026 opening episode, host Naomi Smith explores what events are revealing about association leadership this year in places where strategy becomes visible: association events. Joined by Ariane Brusselmans, Senior Nonprofit Executive and Director of Conferences at the International AIDS Society, and Professor Peter Van Daele, Secretary General of the International Union of Radio Science, the conversation examines: * § Why events are becoming one of the earliest indicators of leadership strength * § What's changing in event design * § Why impact and legacy are moving from "add-on" to planning criterion This episode is a grounded, operational look at how leadership decisions are tested in real time, and what association leaders should be watching closely this year. Produced by Boardroom Magazine, in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE).

What Really Matters in 2026? Part One

If you lead an association in 2026, the question isn't whether things are changing – it's which changes actually matter. In this first episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast for 2026, host Naomi Smith brings together members of the Boardroom Advisory Board to discuss the shifts and decisions shaping association leadership in the year ahead. Joined by Susan de Bièvre, Senior Association Management Consultant and Managing Director of NATA, and Carlos Lee, Director General of EPIC – the European Photonics Industry Consortium, this conversation explores: * How geopolitical risk and polarisation are reshaping boardroom decision-making * The difference between using AI and being genuinely AI-enabled * Whether event-centric revenue models are still sustainable * How boards should rethink member journeys, impact, and legacy in 2026 This is Part I of a two-part episode examining the realities association boards must navigate this year and the moves leaders should consider next. Produced by Boardroom Magazine, in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE).

Making DEI Matter: From Principle to Practice

Making DEI Matter: From Principle to Practice At one of the world's largest oncology congresses this year — amid the science, research, and policy discussions — a Pride side-event took place. It was a small but powerful reminder that visibility and representation matter, even in the most traditional spaces. That moment opens this episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast, where host Naomi Smith explores how associations, large and small, can turn diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into action—especially in today's climate, where inclusion is increasingly under scrutiny. Featuring Charley Stoney, CEO of the European Association of Communication Agencies (EACA) and Alex Filicevas, Executive Director of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition This episode concludes The Systems Behind the Strategy: Leading with What Matters, a three-part series from Boardroom Association Magazine, produced in collaboration with ESAE and powered by Congrex Switzerland.

Association Events – The Leadership Imperative

What really goes on behind the scenes of your association's flagship events? In this episode of the Boardroom Association Podcast, host Naomi Smith lifts the curtain on congresses, conferences, and summits—the moments that leaders attend and celebrate, but rarely see in full. From the marathon planning to last-minute problem-solving, events are more than logistics—they're strategic tools for visibility, influence, and community building. Featured in this episode: Fanny Senez, Head of Events at the European Cancer Organisation – on why congresses are the peak of an association's year and how to balance vision with execution. Noureddine M'ghari, Congress & Events Manager at EAACI – on the risks and rewards of leader involvement, and the strategies that keep events resilient and relevant. This episode is part of The Systems Behind the Strategy: Leading with What Matters, a three-part podcast series from Boardroom Magazine, produced in collaboration with ESAE and powered by Congrex Switzerland

Governance – Leadership in Action

Kicking off Season 2 of the Boardroom Association Podcast, this episode dives into the layered world of governance—not as a dry checklist, but as a living system that shapes trust, purpose, and performance. Simone De Ioanna, Executive Director of the European Psychiatric Association, brings a human lens to governance—revealing it as something deeply layered and full of potential. Beatrice Richez-Baum, Director General at ecoDa, takes us into governance's structural core—sharing why leaders must review governance regularly and see it as a strategic enabler, not a constraint. This episode is part of The Systems Behind the Strategy: Leading with What Matters, a three-part podcast series from Boardroom Magazine, hosted by Naom Smith, produced in collaboration with the European Society of Association Executives, and powered by Congrex Switzerland.