fwd: brings fresh impetus to the association’s future work

This approach is also reflected in the Executive Board: with Natascha Kneissl, individual members will be represented there for the first time. In this way, fwd: is strengthening the involvement of self-employed experts and broadening the perspectives within its committee work.

“I want to get involved on the Executive Board because individual members bring an important perspective to fwd: on the reality of our industry: self-employed, close to projects, clients, agencies and teams. I want to raise the profile of this perspective, anchor it more firmly in the association’s strategy and translate it into concrete formats for exchange, networking and support,” says Natascha Kneissl (NAMA Consulting).

Continuity in voluntary work

Alongside this new perspective on the Executive Board, the Annual General Meeting also stands for continuity in voluntary work: Andreas Weber, fwd:’s Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of expopartner GmbH, was re-elected to his post. Matthias Thoben (Engelmann Messe & Design GmbH), Jörg Zeißig (Holtmann GmbH & Co. KG) and Jörg Pries (DSV Fairs & Events GmbH) were also re-elected. Jan Beckmann (Beckmann Fair Partner GmbH) and Denis Beutler (WUM Brand spaces GmbH & Co. KG) remain as auditors; Jörn Goesmann (BRACE Group GmbH) was newly elected to the audit committee.

Guidance for the industry

The association’s future direction was also a key focus in terms of content. The panel discussion “fwd: The Event Industry’s Think Tank – Providing impetus. Representing interests. Shaping the future” addressed the question of how the association raises awareness of issues, brings together interests and provides guidance for the industry. Dirk von Gehlen, Director of the Think Tank at the SZ Institute, opened the discussion with an insight into how organisations can actively address future challenges.

In the ensuing discussion, Dirk von Gehlen, Markus Illing, Vera Viehöfer, Christian Eichenberger and Silke Schulte applied this perspective to the events industry. The discussion centred on how fwd: brings together the industry’s concerns, develops positions and derives concrete approaches for its future work from these.

With its 2026 Annual General Meeting, fwd: is turning its attention to the future development of the events industry. The focus is on key future issues, dialogue within the sector and the consolidation of shared perspectives. Building on this, the association is placing a clear emphasis on further expanding its advocacy work in the field of economic policy. The aim is to bring the sector’s concerns to the fore in political decision-making processes in a targeted manner and to raise the profile of its social significance.