The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) has announced the appointment of Sue Stuart as the new Chair of BACD.

She took up office as Chair at the association’s Annual General Meeting, held on the 7^th June 2006 at The Carriageworks in Leeds.

Sue is currently the chief executive of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau (ECB), and has worked there since 1992. She takes over from the outgoing Chair, Sue Crawley, and will hold the position for twelve months.

Sue Stuart is an Arts Graduate from Edinburgh University and, prior to her position with the ECB, she worked as the sales manager of the prestigious five star Gleneagles Hotel in St Andrews.

Sue was promoted to head of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau in 1999, when she led the Bureau through the challenges of becoming a limited company, following a major Scottish Executive review of tourism in April 2005.

Upon successful completion of the new limited status, Sue was appointed as CEO of the Bureau in September 2005. She is currently leading the Bureau in developing a five year strategy and business plan to further develop business tourism in Edinburgh.

Sue Stuart comments, “Business tourism is extremely important, generating more the £20 billion a year for Britain’s economy. Success demands the vision to identify necessary change and the discipline to implement it. My aim is to assist in that process using the experience we have gained in delivering change in Edinburgh."

"BACD is pivotal to both the educational process and influencing of business for its members. I look forward to working with BACD staff and Board to ensure that the organisation is best placed strategically and operationally to respond to these challenges and provide best possible return for its members.”

BACD chief executive, Tony Rogers, commented on her appointment: “We are absolutely delighted that Sue has assumed the Chair of BACD at a crucial time in the Association’s development. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of both the national and international conference industry, combined with high level strategic skills.  We are very much looking forward to the contribution that she will make.”