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 22 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Norbert Pýcha

CEO at EVENT ARENA

Norbert Pycha is an advocate for personal contact and live communication. He co-created EVENTVERSE, a comprehensive system integrating companies and products centered on events and live marketing. Through EVENTVERSE, Norbert fosters a vibrant community of event professionals, promoting collaboration and innovation. His dedication to enhancing live interactions and community building makes him a key figure in the event industry

Ruth Ann Felismino

Communications & Advocacy at CGIAR

Ruth Ann Felismino brings over 15 years of experience in stakeholder engagement and event management in the international development sector. Based in France, she leads global events for CGIAR, aligning with UN conferences to advance science-policy dialogue on food, land, and water. Known for her inclusive, strategic approach, she is pursuing a Master’s in ASEAN Studies, focusing on MICE tourism and regional development.

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.

Aleksandra Cichecka

Employer branding & event expert

Energetic, self-starter employer branding and events expert with high communication skills and over 10 years of experience. Supporter of Agile methodologies. Jury Member of MP Power Awards. Eager fan of rock and sport climbing.

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.

Meta Pavlin Avdić

Strategic director at prvi.prvi

Meta, a communication strategist with two decades of experience, found her calling in sustainable marketing. With her colleagues at prvi.prvi., she develops transformative, world-changing campaigns. A perpetual learner and teacher, she inspires conscious, active participation in society and the co-creation of a healthy, sustainable world, believing that communication can be the main catalyst for this change.

Mary Kirillova

Managing Director at BEIC.pro and Amber Prize

Mary began her career as a journalist and Italian language instructor for opera singers, which led her to organizing events with artists — sparking a lasting passion for the events industry. After working with a Swedish company, she launched the Nordic region’s first event industry forum, the Amber Prize, fostering collaboration and new projects. She later founded the Business Event Industry Club (BEIC), now the largest innovation and knowledge platform for event professionals, where she continues to champion creativity, innovation, and global partnerships.