International engineering federation FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) has appointed Barbara Gaeremynck as its new head of conference and events.

The newly created post will be responsible for managing FIDIC’s growing events and conference programme – including its flagship annual international infrastructure conference and awards – and shaping the federation’s future events strategy in a fast-moving and developing industry landscape.

Belgian national Gaeremynck, who speaks English, French, Dutch and some German, has significant international experience in conference and events management with key expertise in conference organisation, customer relationship management, events, marketing, sales and sponsorship. She has an MSc in international events management and has over nine years’ experience working in the conferencing and events sector.

Speaking on her arrival in post at FIDIC, Gaeremynck said: “I’m really excited about my new role at FIDIC, which is clearly a forward-thinking, leading organisation with an enormous potential. My previous experience has given me a good global perspective along with the right capabilities to make a difference as head of conference and events. My understanding of the importance of stakeholder and member engagement to grow business will help me as we strive to reach the ambitious targets set out in FIDIC’s federation activities.”

The new role will oversee the development and organisation of the FIDIC global infrastructure conference and awards programme, FIDIC’s contract users’ conference series of events, the federation’s programme of regional conferences and committees and FIDIC’s board and corporate governance-related events. 

Gaeremynck’s arrival as head of conference and events is the first in a series of senior level appointments expected at FIDIC over the coming months which will help to strengthen the organisation and the services it provides to its 102 member associations worldwide. The new arrivals follow the appointment of a new FIDIC chief executive in the summer of 2018.  

FIDIC chief executive, Dr Nelson Ogunshakin, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Barbara as FIDIC’s new head of conference and events. Our conference and events programme are a crucial part of FIDIC’s operations, membership and stakeholder support activities and we are looking forward to growing our activities in this area to ensure that we increase our profile in the global consulting engineering sector. I am sure that Barbara will play a key role in helping us expand FIDIC’s international, regional and focused conference and events portfolio and I am looking forward to working with her and other new arrivals in the months and years ahead.” 

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.