The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has launched a Professional Development Grant aimed at growing the next generation of local meetings industry leaders.

The grant will provide three young local association executives the opportunity to attend the  ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) Congress 2016, which will be held in Kuching, Sarawak, to engage with leading international industry professionals and expand their knowledge and capabilities in association management at the same time,  familiarise themselves with the global meetings industry and the bid process in anticipation of future regional and international congresses linked to their respective association.

Elaborating, the Centre’s general manager, Alan Pryor said, “We believe direct exposure to industry experts and stakeholders will help equip the young executives with the tools to become ‘Malaysian Ambassadors’ for their association and the country. So we invite Malaysian association executives aged between 25 and 35 years old and  who are registered and a participating member of a national association that is registered, active and holds an annual national conference, to apply (for the grant).”

Given the Centre’s belief in professional development as one way of furthering Malaysia’s business tourism credentials, it was only apt that the Professional Development Grant was launched, by Pryor and ICCA president, Nina Freysen-Pretorius, at the 10^th edition of the facility‘s annual Association Seminar March 10.

Congratulating the Centre on its Association Seminar and Professional Development Grant initiatives, Freysen-Pretorius said the Centre’s efforts towards industry talent development are commendable. “I would encourage the national associations to take advantage of this support to uplift their profile within their international network. This will ultimately benefit both the local organisation and the country.”

The Association Seminar is an annual thought-leadership and knowledge-sharing event; under the Centre’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) umbrella, held to educate, encourage and inspire local associations to proactively engage with their international counterparts to bring their meetings to Malaysia.

And with the facility marking 10 years in the business (this year), it was appropriate that the 2015 seminar theme, ‘Leading Associations into the Future’, reflected its aspirations in charting new strategies for greater growth in the decade to come.

This year ‘s (seminar) programme saw Freysen-Pretorius joined by Martin Lewis, Managing Director, CAT Publications Ltd, a unique organisation that specialises solely in magazines, directories, live events and web sites for the conference and incentive travel markets, in an interactive dialogue on the global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, international best-practices and the future direction of the industry.

Also on the agenda were presentations on the ‘Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015 – 2025’ by DBKL’s Head of Tourism Unit, Noraza Yusof, and ‘The Benefits Beyond Tourism’ by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (MyCEB) Market Research Manager, Manisa Nor.

The online application form and further information on the Centre’s Professional Development Grant will be available on www.klccconventioncentre.com by the end of March.