MEET THE JURY

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS FROM THE FIELD OF EVENT ORGANISATION

All submitted entries will be evaluated by a jury consisting of international experts from the field of event organisation. The jury consists of 19 members who participate and have equal votes in evaluating the submitted entries. Every member of the jury makes their decision individually on the basis of their expert knowledge, reputation and authority. Each member also has the right to raise objections and questions, as well as an obligation to explain the scores given when evaluating entries to receive the main award. The work of the jury is planned and monitored by a representative of the organizational board of the Conventa Best Event Award.

Angeles Moreno

Country Manager at AIM

Angeles Moreno, an expert in Business Management, Event Strategy, and strategic change, boasts a remarkable career in executive leadership, entrepreneurship, and consultancy. She excels in fostering growth, enhancing revenue, and innovating organizations. Author of "The Time Is Now," and a top influencer among Spain's female leaders, she co-created the "CX Design Playbook" and is an international keynote speaker.

Vesna Vlašič

Managing Director at McCann

With over two decades of expertise in communications and event management, Vesna led McCann Sarajevo to significant growth and a robust client list featuring major brands. Her strategic leadership has consistently achieved an annual revenue increase and garnered multiple industry accolades, including “Agency of the Year”. With experience in high-profile campaigns for global clients and contributions to international development programs, Vesna is well known for her commitment to innovation, diversity, and excellence in the marketing and PR sectors.

Anja Rebek

Founder, CEO, Client Service Director

Anja Rebek is a key figure in Slovenian event management with 15 years of experience in communications and marketing. After making a mark in journalism and TV production, she followed her true passion for event management. Anja's expertise spans media, marketing, and strategic event management for corporate and entertainment events. Currently leading the event boutique Fabulatorij, she blends diverse skills to satisfy clients and engage audiences.

Luca Favetta

Board Member of the World Tourism Forum Institute International Council

Luca Favetta recently served as Regional Business Director EMEA at PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), one of the world’s largest network of Business Events Strategists, where was responsible for developing PCMA Brand and Educational Services in the EMEA Region. With 30+ years of Corporate Events experience, Luca has previously served as Senior Director Global Events and Programs at Hewlett-Packard International as well as Senior Director Global Events EMEA at SAP SA.

Ivo J. Franschitz

Founder & Owner of ENITED Business Events, Austria

Ivo is the owner & Managing Director of ENITED Business Events GmbH. Since 1999, he has been involved with a number of national and international educational institutions and sharing his experience and knowledge through a variety of speaking engagements. Currently, he holds a Board member position with EMBA (Event Marketing Board Austria) and with LiveCom Alliance, as well as being an active member of ICCA and 27NAMES.

Jose Garcia Aguarod

Founder of the Eventoplus Group, Spain

Jose is the founder of the Eventoplus Group of event and MICE related publications and events. He is an entrepreneur, trainer and speaker. Jose has been fully dedicated to the events and MICE industry for the last 18 years, as an organiser, as a final client and as a professional media publisher.

Jan-Jaap In der Maur

Owner-moderator at Masters in Moderation, The Netherlands

Jan-Jaap is the owner-moderator at Masters in Moderation. He is a firm believer that a carefully selected moderator-facilitator will make meetings more effective, more fun and definitely more worthwhile. His dream is to raise the standard of meetings worldwide, by providing them with the best moderators.

Pigalle Tavakkoli

School of Experience Design

Pigalle, an Experience Designer for 15 years, has created for V&A, National Portrait Gallery, Barbican Centre, and Science Museum. Since 2012, she co-develops and teaches the UK’s first Experience Design course at the globally second-ranked University of the Arts, London. Pigalle also founded the School of Experience Design, catering to clients like the Institute of Physics, EUROfusion, Unilever, and L’Oréal.

Boris Kovaček

Executive director Weekend Media Festival Pepermint, Croatia

Boris Kovaček is the Co-owner of Pepermint, responsible for managing agency projects as well as conducting business operations. He is executive director and co-owner of the Weekend Media Festival as well as Project Manager at the World Handball Championship, the European Water Polo Championship, Terraneo Music Festival, Asian Beach Games 2010.

Stefan Kozak

Founder, managing director at CREATIVE PRO, Slovakia

Stefan Kozak is the founder of CREATIVE PRO, a live & event marketing company, which developed into a diversified group of companies, called CREATIVE PRO group focused on the Slovak and Czech market. He is in charge of business development, strategical acquisition and specific ‘live marketing’ projects.

Christian Mutschlechner

Former Director of Vienna Convention Bureau, Austria

Christian Mutschlechner is one of the leading figures of the international meetings and events industry. He has over 40 years of experience in this field and has been the CEO of the Vienna Convention Bureau (VCB) for 27 years. He has also been president of the European Federation of Conference Towns and ICCA.

Jens Mayer

Managing Director of the Jack Morton Worldwide's German Offices, Germany

Jens Mayer has built his career helping brands build strong relationships with the people that matter most to them, through live and digital marketing. He leads Jack Morton Worldwide’s (JMW) offices for the German-speaking market and has more than 20 years of experience in the brand experience industry.

Boštjan Prijanovič

Managing director and partner New Moment Ljubljana, Slovenia

Boštjan is the managing director and partner at New Moment Ljubljana, part of a regional network in the Adriatic region. He is a columnist in Media Marketing, a founder of coaching company BP Komunikacije, and occasional blogger and guest lecturer at FDV and EF Ljubljana.

Kim Myhre

Founder and Managing Partner of Experience Designed

Kim Myhre is the Founder and Managing Partner of Experience Designed, a strategic advisory and creative ideas agency that applies purpose-led design principals to create transformative brand experience strategies. He is an experience designer, consultant, speaker, guest lecturer, writer, creator, innovation activist and brand storyteller.

Manuela Šola

General Manager, Komunikacijski laboratorij

Manuela is the founder of one of today's leading communication agencies in the region, Komunikacijski Laboratorij. The agency is the organizer of the internationally awarded project Future Tense Conference, a future-oriented, internationally awarded B2B conference focusing on the future of business. She is also the ambassador of female entrepreneurship in Croatia and an active member of a number of business associations.

Łukasz Klimczak

Co-founder of *Bespoke

Co-founder and Board Member at *Bespoke, a leading brand marketing agency in the Polish events & incentives industry. Over 15 years of experience in the MICE industry. Played a vital role in supporting Polish companies in the meetings industry during the pandemic. Co-authored meeting organizer guidelines for the Polish Ministry of Development in May 2020. Active member of SAR Marketing Communication Association and SOIT – Incentive Travel Organizers Association.

Inese Lukaševska

Founder at LUKA AGENCY

Inese Lukaševska, founder of "Luka" agency, excels in communication and reputation management, boasting 8 global wins and 13 awards. With triple degrees, she combines strategic vision and creativity, showcasing over two decades of expertise in marketing and media relations. Inese actively contributes to industry discourse and is currently working on her debut novel.

Maarten Schram

Founder/Managing Director, LiveCom Alliance

Maarten Schram established LiveCom Alliance in 2016 as a non profit foundation on the belief that the live communication industry deserves a pan-European approach and audience, and would benefit from an overarching dedicated yet independent institution. Maarten thrives the pan-European industry creating a stronger, more sustainable and more interesting playing field by introducing the first pan-European Code of Ethics (2017) and first pan-European Pitch Guidelines (2018).

Anja Garbajs

Director of Content Marketing Projects at PM

Anja Garbajs is a dynamic and creative professional with a passion for effective communication across various mediums. With over 20 years of experience in agency PM, poslovni mediji, she excels in conceptualizing and overseeing the execution of diverse communication processes including PR activities, crisis communication, corporate media production, and advertising. An expert in creating, organizing, producing, and leading corporate events, Anja brings a wealth of expertise to any project she undertakes.

Patrick Delaney

Managing Partner at SoolNua, Ireland

With his business partner Pádraic Gilligan, Patrick Delaney is Managing Partner at SoolNua, a boutique consultancy firm working in the Meetings and Events industry. Patrick worked in hotels in Ireland, Canada as well as Bord Failte’s Hotel Advisory Service. He also led the sales and marketing for the Irish Tourist Board.