European Association Summit & Awards 2026
Provisional Sessions & Speakers
Intelligence, Sense-Making, and Shared Vision for Association Leaders
09:40 - 10:20
Predicting the future has always been an almost impossible task. Granted, we get better at it with experience, and access to information, but in a highly volatile, fast-changing environment, this becomes even more of a challenge.
However challenging, it is a role we cannot escape. On a daily basis we are asked to take decisions that will have short- and long-term consequences, based on strategies decided collectively. Science can help us with techniques that can make the future more approachable, giving us the tools to map potential outcomes and choose the optimal way forward.
Inspired by the preamble to our overarching theme “Define Tomorrow, Act Today”, our keynote session will feature UNESCO Chair on Futures Research, Epaminondas Christophilopoulos, in an inspiring conversation with Martina De Sole and the audience. Together, we will learn how to use foresight for Associations, and make it a daily practice, to better serve our members and teams.
Going Further Together: Coalition Building for Impact
10:20 - 11:00
We can far alone, we can go farther together.
Associations are natural connectors. We connect members together, as well as a large array of stakeholders. Oftentimes, we need to form coalitions with other Associations or third parties. Some of them can even be competitors in certain areas, and allies in others. Setting coalitions helps strengthen our voice, reduce costs, increase impact.
This panel discussion will bring to the spotlight case studies where Associations formed coalitions with purpose, benefiting their respective Communities and the Society as a whole.
The Human Factor: Leading People Through Change
11:30 - 12:40
Change doesn’t fail because of strategy; it fails because of people.
This 90‑minute session explores the human side of transformation and equips leaders with practical tools to guide teams through uncertainty, resistance, and new ways forward.
Participants will dive into what change means for our teams and members, and how technology, and in AI in particular can be transcendent in everything that we do.. Through an interactive discussion with Association Leaders, Association professionals will discover how to create the conditions where people feel supported, engaged, and ready to move forward.
The session will help develop techniques for building trust, resilience, and alignment so that together we will discover how to turn change from a source of friction into an opportunity for growth.
Advocating Effectively in a Polarised Era
13:40 - 14:50
The outcome of last year’s elections on both sides of the Atlantic led to a more polarized world. On the one hand the European Parliament reflects the polarized politics in most European capitals. Associations need to navigate through a fragmented political landscape, having to interact and coordinate with parties that oftentimes threaten long established values. On the other hand, the world around is becoming more polarized and unpredictable by the day. The tension between US and the rest of the world, affect the ways in which Associations advocate and promote the interests of their members and teams.
This session will bring on stage Association professionals in Advocacy and Communications to share their insights on how we can be impactful in a shifting landscape.
When Values Hit the Boardroom: DEI Under Pressure in Association Governance
13:40 - 14:50
Are the values of your Association still relevant? What if the values of your team clash with the ones of your Board? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been the focus of many organisations in the past but lately is under attack. Corporates are taking back their pledges to protect the rights of those who are underrepresented, and this has a subsequent impact to the Associations they work with or are members of. What is the role of Association professionals when our values are under pressure?
Join us for an interactive session, where participants will be divided into groups to work on case studies.
Association Business Models: Revenue Streams Diversification
13:40 - 14:50
Has the way of creating and delivering value changed? As new trends are evolving, Associations are faced with the need to re-evaluate the ways they serve their members. Behavioural changes and the digitalization of knowledge exchange, in combination with the rise in competition and limited funding from members, is forcing us to think outside the box. This session will bringing together Association Leaders from different fields top analyse the new trends and inspire the participants with solutions to ensure resilience and impact.
Cybersecurity for Associations
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION COMMUNITY
15:00 - 16:00
As Associations face growing exposure to cyber threats, cybersecurity has become a strategic priority. Learn how to implement smart, proportionate strategies that protect your organisation while enabling collaboration, digital innovation, and member trust.
Salary Transparency & Pay Gap
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S FINANCE & HR COMMUNITY
15:00 - 16:00
Explore how the EU Pay Transparency Directive affects HR and Finance, why gender pay gaps persist, and how differences can be objectively justified. This session provides practical guidance for bridging pay gaps and offers expert perspectives on aligning compensation practices with legal requirements and organizational equity goals — all while fostering transparency, fairness, and trust.
From Compliance to Leadership: Associations Shaping Sustainable Futures
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S SUSTAINABILITY & LEGACY COMMUNITY
15:00 - 16:00
Discover how Associations can move beyond compliance to proactively shape sustainability policy and regulation. This session explores practical strategies for supporting members in meeting sustainability and reporting obligations while positioning the Association as a leader in driving positive environmental and social impact.
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Will Health Associations still be around in 20 years?
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S HEALTH COMMUNITY
15:00 - 16:00
Demographics are relentless. The lack of Health professionals that we already experience is only going to get worse. With less and less people choosing the medical profession as a career choice, the membership of Health Associations is about to dwindle. This will have an adverse effect to the participation in our congressed, volunteer engagement and the societal impact that we can achieve.
Health Association Leaders need to prepare their Societies for what is coming and hedge against risks. This interactive sessions will discuss revenue diversification, Congress planning and execution, Sponsorship Strategy, as well as how Associations can influence policymakers to avert a declining trend.
Running Association as Startups
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S STRATEGY COMMUNITY
16:30 - 18:00
Learn how start-ups develop strategies that drive growth and innovation, and what associations can take from their approach. This session combines real-world examples with peer discussion to explore practical lessons for working efficiently with limited resources.
Who’s actually in Charge (And who should be)? Clarifying Board and Staff roles
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S GOVERNANCE & DEI COMMUNITY
16:30 - 18:00
Through interactive, mixed-group exercises, participants will tackle realistic governance dilemmas involving diversity, equity, and inclusion. Explore how DEI principles are applied — and tested — when decisions are urgent, political, or uncomfortable, and gain practical insights for leading with integrity in complex situations.
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How to fully engage your members
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S COMMUNICATION & MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY
16:30 - 18:00
Discover how Associations can move beyond transactional interactions to foster meaningful, long-term relationships with their members, creating sustained value and stronger community connections.
Events that Matter: Designing Meetings for focus, connection and Impact
SESSION ORGANIZED BY ESAE'S EVENT MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY
16:30 - 18:00
Explore how Association events can serve as strategic tools for leadership, engagement, and community building. This session examines how innovative meeting design fosters meaningful dialogue on trends and challenges, strengthens connections within Associations and their sectors, and aligns content and format with evolving community needs to maximize relevance, commitment, and collective impact.
