Meet the faces behind ICCA's famous First Time Attendee programme! ICCA places huge importance on giving First Time Attendees (FTAs) at the ICCA Congress a very warm welcome. Each year, just before the ICCA Congress begins, new attendees are invited to join a specialised session that aims to prepare them for success. Jam-packed full of helpful advice that is delivered from member to member, the programme has been delivered to over 3,000 delegates since it initially began and is designed with care to help them network, do business, learn, and maximise the benefits of attending their first ICCA Congress.

At the centre of the entire programme are the people we couldn’t do it without: our mentors, an amazing group of ICCA members and #ICCAFriends who are Congress veterans and want to help support and steer our newbies as they join the ICCA Family.

Meet Silke Schlinnertz

Silke is a "do-it-all" who loves to empower people and set up new innovative initiatives. She is Head of Growth at Euroheat & Power, where she intensively works together on event and marketing, creating the best experience for all stakeholders. Her role includes the overseeing and management of the association's administration as well as strengthening its relationships with members & partners. Ever since the start of her career she has been part of the association world and covers marketing, member relations and organises events around the globe.

Silke worked for several associations since 2000 and joined Euroheat & Power in March 2011 from Colloquium Brussels, where she was a Professional Congress Organiser. Silke was appointed to the role of Head of Operations, Communications and Events at Euroheat & Power (the international association for District Heating and Cooling) in January 2014, having previously occupied the position of Communications and Events Manager. Prior to Colloquium, Silke worked for different associations such as SEMI, where she was in charge of the SEMICON Europe & Russia Trade Shows; the European Wind Energy Association, where she lead the events and marketing team; and UITP – Advancing Public Transport, where she began her career.

She currently serves on the Boardroom magazine advisory board and completed in January 2019 the Executive Master In International Association Management at Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management. In 2018 she made it to the Successful Meetings’ annual list of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry.

Thank you to Silke, for being an FTA mentor! Are you interested in helping our First Time Attendees to settle in? Please email Ksenija.p@iccaworld.org to find out how you can become a mentor.

Let’s get social by using the following hashtags: #ICCANewBee #ICCAMentorBee #LetsGetBuzzing #ICCA2021