AC Forumsecretariat2026-07-02T08:43:16+00:00

AC FORUM Slider

BY ASSOCIATIONS FOR ASSOCIATIONS

Advancing Association Leadership &
Congress Management

AC FORUM Slider

BY ASSOCIATIONS FOR ASSOCIATIONS

Advancing Association Leadership &
Congress Management

AC Forum is the only association established exclusively by and for associations
Our members are international and regional self-managed, not-for-profit associations
Through peer to peer sharing of good practice and expanding thinking, in a confidential environment, free of commercial influences, members are engaged to exchange knowledge to advance association leadership and congress management
We aim to be the recognised global leader for associations driving innovation and excellence in leadership for impact and AC Forum is highly sought-after for thought leadership and good practice

Upcoming Events

AC Forum is a cohesive, engaged community, which facilitates connections. We recognise and support the needs of different segments and we arrange educational and networking events to support our members and to build alliances and partnerships with suitable organisations for research and knowledge generation.

Workshop on Marketing & Communication

28 & 29 September

Location: Parma

Restricted to AC Forum members

Workshop on IT

23 October

Location: Brussels

Restricted to AC Forum members

Workshop on Finance

October/November

Location: Windsor

Restricted to AC Forum members

Workshop on Patient Engagement

26 & 27 November

Location: Sophia Antipolis

Restricted to AC Forum members

Annual Meeting 2027

21-23 January

Location: MiCo, Milan

Restricted to AC Forum members

Why Join AC Forum?

Members are the heart of AC Forum. AC Forum membership supports the highest level of association management through an open exchange of knowledge, expertise and experiences. We provide our members with multiple forums to freely interact with peers facing comparable opportunities and challenges in the association industry in an environment that is confidential and trusting.

AC Forum is exclusively by and for associations, and membership is for supranational, self-managed, non-profit associations.

Is your organisation interested in joining AC Forum?
Find out how to become a member now

AC Forum Members

Annual Meeting 2027

The Annual Meeting 2027 will take place in Milan, 21-23 January.

Hosting the Annual Meeting

AC Forum Membership

If you are a convention bureau interested in showcasing your city to major associations, apply to host the AC Forum Annual Meeting. Hosting our Annual Meeting gives an unrivalled opportunity to (re-)introduce your city to our members.

Hosting the Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting 2027 will take place in Milan, 21-23 January.

If you are a convention bureau interested in showcasing your city to major associations, apply to host the AC Forum Annual Meeting. Hosting our Annual Meeting gives an unrivalled opportunity to (re-)introduce your city to our members.

Hosting the Annual Meeting

Education

Education is a cornerstone of AC Forum and is at the core of what we do. In addition to the Annual Meeting, workshops, webinars and campfire meetings provide education on specific topics for association staff and allow member associations to connect with each other.

We are dedicated to delivering valuable, meaningful education and strive to continually improve our educational offerings and knowledge curation for our members. Educational events are often member-led, and offer an unrivalled opportunity for peer exchange and expert education on focused topics.

Annual Meeting

The educational programme of the Annual Meeting is tailored to our members’ needs. Much of the programme is built from case studies submitted by members and rounded out by keynote lectures, masterclasses and expert-led sessions.

Workshops

Face-to-face workshops are targeted, small-scale meetings over 1½ days, providing a deep dive on specific topics for association staff dealing with those areas. They also allow member associations to connect with each other.

Webinars

We run regular webinars on topics of high relevance to members. Their virtual nature facilitates participation by more staff, since there is no need to travel, and as most of the webinars are recorded they are available to all AC Forum member staff.

Campfires

In response to discussions trending among our members, we arrange Campfire meetings. Campfires are meet-ups for members for discussions on particular topics and are member-driven, informal forums for peer exchange.

Latest News

Workshop: Patient Engagement in scientific societies: Why, how and when, 26 & 27 November

secretariat2026-07-29T14:30:46+00:00July 29th, 2026|

Workshop Objectives: Create opportunities for staff working in patient engagement from diverse scientific societies to connect and build professional relationships. Use real-world case studies that demonstrate: The impact that patient

Workshop on IT, 23 October

secretariat2026-07-29T14:28:24+00:00July 29th, 2026|

Tentative agenda: Cybersecurity & NGOs: Low cost for big impacts Many NGOs mistakenly believe they aren't targets for cyber threats because they are non-profits. In reality, they hold highly sensitive

Workshop on Communication & Marketing, 28 & 29 September

secretariat2026-06-17T14:00:27+00:00June 17th, 2026|

In an increasingly complex communication landscape, associations face growing pressure to engage diverse audiences, demonstrate impact, and deliver meaningful experiences with limited resources. This interactive workshop invites participants to step