The first ever IMEX MPI Future Leaders Forum (FLF) to be held in Poland has resulted in 85% of student delegates saying they are now more likely to consider a career in the Meetings Industry.

For the first time ever the Future Leaders Forum was held as part of a much bigger event.

The 11-day annual AIESEC conference was staged by the world's largest student organisation and saw 500 students from 75 different countries attending a series of discussions and seminars with global business, cultural, science, political and NGO leaders.

Those participating in the Future Leaders Forum were mostly second year management, political science or marketing students. This differs to previous Forums held in the US, Asia and Frankfurt, which have traditionally targeted students already studying for qualifications in the meetings, conferences and incentive travel industry.

The Warsaw FLF saw 195 young delegates choosing to find out more about MICE-related careers.  Most were quick to admit they knew very little about the industry but that soon changed following presentations from several leading industry speakers including Rob Davidson, Senior Lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism, University of Westminster (UK), Hans Friis, Director, Brahler ICS and Eric Rozenberg President Ince & Tive, Brussels.

Speaking about the day’s success, Tom Hulton, IMEX Director of International Relations, said, “This Forum proved a great triumph and credit must go to Krzystof Celuch, a 2005 Future Leaders Forum student, who saw the opportunity to extend the programme’s scope by offering it to AIESEC in Warsaw.”

“This gave us a chance to highlight all that’s good about the industry and to showcase the tremendous career benefits it can provide to bright, ambitious students. We’re now looking ahead to 2007 and hope to build on our relationship with AIESEC by taking the FLF to Turkey where next year’s conference will be held.”

The FLF event was jointly organised by IMEX, Warsaw Convention Bureau, AIESEC and MPI and was sponsored by the Polish Tourist organisation and the University of Economy, Warsaw.