With participation from 14 senior association executives and 13 destination partners from 18 countries, the latest  ICCA Association Impact Masterclass took place in the vibrant city of Dublin, Ireland. Running from 26-28 January, the Masterclass was hosted by the BestCities Global Alliance.

Working with programme co-creators and instructors Geneviève Leclerc of  #MEET4IMPACT and Gary Grimmer of GainingEdge, participants from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas took part in dynamic sessions focusing on creating impact, strategic planning, goal setting, impact, and legacy. 

"AIM is a key element in ICCA's stellar lineup of educational offerings, and we couldn't be more excited to continue working with GainingEdge and MEET4IMPACT on this important programme," said Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA. "We're thrilled to be visiting Dublin, one of the great cities of Europe, for this gathering of events professionals so dedicated to their craft."

The room buzzed with ideas, collaboration, and hands-on activities as participants worked together to explore impact measuring and reporting, impact delivery through events, and identifying gaps in event strategy. 

"We were thrilled to host this engaging and important session," said Loren Christie, managing director of BestCities Global Alliance. "Partners from each of our 13 destinations were able to be true strategic partners to the 14 associations who came to Dublin to craft their impact strategies. Thank you to ICCA and the incredible masterclass facilitators , Gary and Geneviève. Together we are all doing our part to make a positive impact on the world."  

Masterclass attendees also took part in a walking food tour during which they sampled local cuisine, and a welcome reception to kick off the gathering. Sustainability was a key element of the event, and host venue Radisson Blu Hotel Dublin employed a comprehensive sustainability strategy for food sourcing and waste. Additionally, no disposable or plastic utensils were used. 

"This edition of the Association Impact Masterclass brought together senior association executives with a strong vision of their mission" said Geneviève Leclerc, co-founder and CEO of #MEET4IMPACT. "We challenged them to go further — helping them refine their purpose and articulate how their organisations drive meaningful change for society, the planet, and their communities through strategic partnerships and collective action. It was truly inspiring to hear some participants pledge to sit down with their boards in the coming days, encouraging their leadership to embrace a clearer, impact-driven strategy and turn their learnings into tangible action."

"The dynamics and energy of group interaction at the Masterclass is a litmus test for sensing levels of association focus on impact," said Gary Grimmer, executive chairman of GainingEdge. "What we just experienced was a clear indication that the association world is eager to deliver change and wants to power up." 

The Association Impact Masterclass, co-created by ICCA#Meet4Impact and GainingEdge, and with Business Event Sarawak as seed fund contributor, is a groundbreaking training programme that aligns seamlessly with the ICCASkills certification programme. The first Association Impact Masterclass took place in April 2024 in Sarawak. This educational initiative adds valuable enhanced capabilities to the skillsets of association professionals worldwide, enabling them to design, deliver, and measure the impacts of their activities.

Associations play a crucial role globally, and adopting impact-focused strategies empowers them to continue to serve their member communities as well as intentionally driving broader social, economic, and environmental benefits.