The Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau (SECB) has expanded its international conference ambassador programme in Greater China, and inducted Alicia Yao, managing director of IME Consulting and vice chairman of the China Business Event Industry Committee (CBEIC) into this influential fold.
Yao, a veteran business events practitioner and sought-after speaker based in the Chinese capital, received her appointment from Edward Koh, executive director, conventions, meetings & incentive travel, SECB at an event organised by the bureau in Wuxi.
As chairman of CBEIC, set up by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Yao was in charge of recommending and shortlisting 50 qualified buyers to attend the recent ITB Asia.
She also chaired a China panel, We are back: New Trends of China Outbound Meeting and Incentive Events at the tradeshow in Singapore in October.
According to Koh, Yao is being recognised for her association business networks and role in helping SECB advance its interests and agenda in the market.
Also inducted with Yao in Wuxi was Pam Sam Yee (aka Fan San Ru), secretary general, China Millions Forum (CMF) ASEAN. CMF, founded in Beijing in 2004, is an organisation that promotes the professional quality of financial insurance practitioners and aims to unite members to revitalise the insurance industry.
In 2023, SECB inducted Hong Kong-based Perry Shum, vice president, IEEE Photonics Society as Greater China’s first international conference ambassador.
There are over 80 local and 15 international conference ambassadors from Greater China, North Asia, Europe and the US, Koh noted.
Yao commented that the goal of CBEIC and CCPIT, also know as the China Chamber of International Commerce, is for Chinese associations to go global, and promote cooperation between Chinese industry associations and the international business events industry.
On Singapore’s growing importance, she said the business events hub is responding to changes in demand, providing richer and more meaningful experiences for conference participants by working with new and old partners to innovate and jointly promote the development of the industry.
