The next IMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forum at BTC on 6 November 2009 in Rome follows a series of successful Forums over the last four months in the USA, Iceland, Serbia and Thailand. Iceland and Serbia are both new to the programme which has taken in 17 countries and over 3,000 students since its launch in 2003.

The Future Leaders programme includes an annual three month internship in Malaysia with AOS Conventions & Events offered to two European graduates of the Future Leaders Forum at IMEX. Magdalina Yarichkov from Minoan International College began her internship in August and sent in this report “When I heard I was one of the selected students I was so excited! I had researched AOS previously and feel honoured to be able to work for them. Now I am here I cannot wait to get up in the morning to go to the office and see what exciting tasks are waiting for me! Tomorrow I am due to take a day trip to Malacca – I am sure that three adventurous months lie ahead!”

The Future Leaders Forum at WEC in Salt Lake City in July hosted the first round of the IMEX-MPI International University Challenge 2010, won by Renea Anderson from the University of Central Florida. Renea will attend the final of the University Challenge at the Future Leaders Forum at IMEX in Frankfurt next year along with finalists from Forums in Thailand, Poland and Malaga.

Reporting back after winning the previous University Challenge, Miguel Neves from the University of Westminster commented, “The highlight of the Forum is all the industry professionals who give their time to explain their perspective of the industry and show us all the different options and careers open to us – such as how to run a business and what the future trends may be. That’s really important and very valuable for young people coming into the industry.” www.imex-frankfurt.com/aboutfutureleadersforum.html