An organisation formed to represent the business events industry across Asia Pacific has named two seasoned hotel and corporate law operators in a bid to drive its educational and compliance standards.
Nigel Gaunt, president of the Incentive, Conference & Event Society Asia Pacific (Icesap), says the appointments represent two key objectives in developing the fledgling organisation – legal compliance and education. Icesap was established in 2014 with the aim of raising the standards and profile of the industry in the region, particularly the end-use – or corporate buyer.
Tom Monahan, former Lippo Hospitality and Leisure CEO, who previously held senior positions with Carlson Rezidor, Wyndham and Starwood, has been named chairman of compliance for Icesap. Monahan will be based in Singapore where the organisation’s accreditation scheme is being developed in consultation with legal, accounting and insurance consultants.
Icesap hopes to launch an online learning course with input from conference organisers MCI, incentive network BI Worldwide and live communication and events agency Uniplan by the middle of the year.
Nicole Bligh, takes up the position of chairman of education to oversee Icesap’s distance learning programme. Bligh has 15 years’ experience in meetings and events, including roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, BDO and Siemens. She is now based in Australia after five years in Singapore heading the Asia-Pacific events team at legal firm Baker McKenzie.
