Neil Brownlee, head of Business Events at VisitScotland, has been inaugurated as the 2025 Chair of PCMA at Convening Leaders 2025, which took place in Houston this week.

Brownlee, who has a wealth of experience gleaned from his more than 35 years’ experience in the international hospitality and business events industry, was sworn in alongside Chair Elect Kelly Ricker, COO, Global Technology Industry Association. He assumes the role of Chair from PCMA Immediate Past Chair Leonard Hoops, president and CEO at Visit Indy.

Brownlee and Ricker will work together over this coming year alongside PCMA’s Board of Directors and Trustees, to continue promoting business events as catalysts for positive global economic and social transformation and to gain wider recognition and understanding of the industry.

“I am honored to begin my tenure as Chair of PCMA, the first non-North American do so, building on the leadership of my friend and colleague and Immediate Past Chair, Leonard Hoops. I am also delighted to be working alongside the talented and dynamic Kelly Ricker, and Sherrif Karamat’s outstanding PCMA team,” says Brownlee. “I am passionate about the role that business events can play in promoting social and economic progress and intend to use this year and our global voice to position business events as change makers. It is my aim to represent all members of our globally diverse community as we work together to drive impactful and meaningful change worldwide.”

About PCMA

PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA is the world’s largest community for business events strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. The association’s mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 59 countries. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Its flagship convention, Convening Leaders, is held annually. The 2026 edition will be held January 11-14 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.