IUCN World Conservation Congress · Abu Dhabi 2025Strategic leadership. Global impact.
Seamless delivery.
2025Led the strategic planning and operational delivery of a major global conservation congress, overseeing a CHF 50M budget, host-country partnerships, exhibition strategy and multidisciplinary teams. Welcomed over 10,000 participants, achieving 20% attendance growth and a CHF 3M+ net surplus.
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2023–24Led the planning and delivery of high-level international forums, bringing together global decision-makers, institutional partners and senior leaders. Oversaw host-destination coordination, stakeholder engagement, programme operations and end-to-end event delivery.
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2007–22Led large-scale congress operations across multiple editions of one of the world's leading global health conferences. Managed international teams, complex operational programmes and relationships with suppliers and host-country partners, ensuring successful delivery across diverse international destinations.
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2015–17Led operational delivery across two major international health congresses in Africa, overseeing multidisciplinary teams, budgets, procurement, exhibitions, production and participant services. Coordinated local partners, suppliers and volunteers to deliver complex events in diverse host-country environments.
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2018Managed the congress exhibition from planning through on-site delivery, overseeing exhibitor relations, exhibition design, supplier coordination and operational execution. Ensured a seamless exhibition experience for participating organisations and stakeholders.
More information ↗International AIDS Society · 2007–2022
Explore IAS conferences ↗Over 15 years, I held progressive operational leadership responsibilities across major international HIV conferences, combining strategic planning, complex programme management and hands-on delivery. Working with international partners, host-country stakeholders and multicultural teams, I helped deliver large-scale events bringing together the global HIV community.
Oversight of complex congress operations, including registration and delegate services, international scholarship programmes, 60 satellite meetings and 16 pre-conferences. Management of venue operations, suppliers, temporary teams and volunteer programmes involving up to 2,000 volunteers, ensuring seamless delivery across multiple editions and international host destinations.
This experience shaped my approach to international event leadership: combining strategic oversight with operational precision, cultural awareness and the ability to bring diverse teams together around a common objective.
Selected photographs from congress editions and operational preparations. Figures refer to the scale of projects across the IAS portfolio, not a single edition.
Strategic planning, governance structures, high level stakeholder engagement and VIP protocol for complex international events and congresses.
Development and management of partnerships with host governments, convention bureaus, institutional stakeholders and international organisations.
Exhibition strategy, commercial frameworks, exhibitor relations, sponsorship opportunities and partner engagement.
Leadership of multicultural teams, agencies and suppliers, combining strategic oversight with hands-on delivery of complex international events.
Budget oversight, procurement, contract negotiations and financial accountability, with a track record of delivering measurable results.
Integration of sustainability principles, operational risk management and event governance, including experience with ISO 20121-certified event frameworks.
Invited to speak at two consecutive ICCA Congresses, sharing insights on international event leadership, operational resilience and the challenges of delivering complex global congresses.
Speaker · Sharing practical insights and lessons learned from leading large-scale international congresses, with a focus on the evolving challenges facing the association meetings industry.
Speaker & Workshop Contributor · Exploring resilience, leadership and adaptability in the international meetings industry, drawing on first-hand experience managing complex events and multicultural teams.
With over 18 years of experience leading complex international congresses, exhibitions and high-level events, I bring together strategic vision, financial accountability and hands-on operational leadership to deliver results at scale.
French and Colombian by nationality, with strong roots in both cultures, I have lived and worked across Europe and the Americas. My international journey includes approximately 15 years in Switzerland and a year in Washington, D.C., working on the planning and operational delivery of the International AIDS Conference 2012.
Fluent in English, French and Spanish, I am comfortable navigating different cultural and professional environments, building trusted relationships with governments, international organisations, host destinations and multidisciplinary teams.
I see cultural diversity as a strategic asset — one that helps me connect people, bridge perspectives and build partnerships across borders.
Whether you're planning a major international event, building strategic partnerships or looking for experienced event leadership, I'd love to connect.