REGISTRATION & Welcome Coffee

Kick off your WIAF experience with our Registration & Welcome Coffee session. As you check in and pick up your materials, take a moment to grab a cup of coffee and start connecting with fellow attendees. Who will you meet this morning? This is your first opportunity to engage with the diverse mix of professionals, thought leaders, and innovators gathered for the event. Whether you're here to catch up with familiar faces or introduce yourself to new ones, this informal gathering sets the stage for the networking and discussions ahead. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, settle in, and get ready for an inspiring day of insights and connections.

WELCOME to WIAF

JANE CUNNINGHAM, Moderator WIAF

KAI TROLL, President ASSOCIATIONWORLD, CEO EuropeActive

ICEBREAKER - Who is in the room?

As we kick off this exciting event, we’ll start with an engaging Icebreaker to get to know who’s in the room. Who are the association thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers joining us today? This session is designed to help you connect with fellow attendees right from the start, breaking down barriers and setting the tone for collaboration and open dialogue. Share a bit about yourself, your organization, and what you’re hoping to gain from WIAF. This is your chance to make meaningful connections, discover potential partnerships, and ensure that you maximize your experience over the next two days. Let’s find out who’s here and start building the community that will drive the conversations and insights at this year’s forum. As we kick off this exciting event, we’ll start with an engaging Icebreaker to get to know who’s in the room. Who are the association thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers joining us today? This session is designed to help you connect with fellow attendees right from the start, breaking down barriers and setting the tone for collaboration and open dialogue. Share a bit about yourself, your organization, and what you’re hoping to gain from WIAF. This is your chance to make meaningful connections, discover potential partnerships, and ensure that you maximize your experience over the next two days. Let’s find out who’s here and start building the community that will drive the conversations and insights at this year’s forum.

OWN YOUR IMPACT - What are you afraid of? 

Inspiring KEYNOTE and WORKSHOP by JUAN WEBSTER, Master Storyteller, Managing Partner of Blu Eagle Consulting and Impact Strategist

Session Description  

In a polarized, resource-tight environment, leaders can drift into maintenance mode and lose their spark. Own Your Impact is a fast-moving, participatory session that reconnects executives to purpose, accountability, and courageous action. Using candid prompts and peer dialogue, we’ll surface what’s holding you back and design one commitment that advances your strategy and your people right now. You’ll leave with clarity, a micro plan, and a simple accountability cadence to sustain results.

Learning outcomes

• Identify one fear or inertia point blocking strategic action.
• Translate that insight into a 30-day commitment with a clear first step.
• Apply a hot–cold–hold filter to prioritize what truly drives impact.
• Practice shared accountability rituals you can replicate with your team.
• Set a 3-month peer check-in to convert intent into measurable progress.

COFFEE BREAK

The Coffee Break offers a perfect opportunity to recharge and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed, informal setting. How can you make the most of these brief moments between sessions? Use this time to discuss the insights you've gathered so far, exchange ideas with peers, and expand your professional network— this pause is as much about building relationships as it is about taking a breather.

FIRESIDE CHAT - GLOBAL EXPANSION IN CHALLENGING TIMES

with JANICE LACHANCE, Executive Officer and CEO, American Geophysical Union (AGU) 

Interactive session incl. Q&A.

LUNCH

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE MODELS

with KAI TROLL, Chief Executive Officer, EuropeActive

High level presentation. Sharing best practices. Q&A. Interactive moderated session.

ORGANIZING ASSOCIATIONS EVENTS ABROAD - Are you failing or succeeding?

High level presentations about failures and successes of international events and conferences organized abroad. Internative presentation and workshop. 

BREAK

Time to catch up with new association peers and friends.

COLLABORATION WITH CONVENTION BUREAU'S 

Information and best practices shared by ANNA BUENO, Association Manager, Barcelona Convention Bureau and MARKUS HEIGL, Association Manager, Vienna Convention Bureau.

Interactive session.

WRAP UP & OFFICIAL CLOSING

#itsalwaysaboutpeople #inspireaction

HOSTED ASSOCIATION DINNER

All participting associations and special guests are invited by the Barcelona Convention Bureau, the Vienna Convention Bureau and ASSOCIATIONWORLD to a closing dinner experience at the nearby (walking distance) restaurant ANNABELLE. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Annabelle_wdc