UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Next Generation Leadership (NGL) programme. This year’s NGLs were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants by a panel of international judges chaired by UFI President Panittha Buri.
Now in its tenth edition, the NGL Programme aims to recognise and support emerging talent within the exhibition industry. Eligible candidates must have fewer than ten years of industry experience and demonstrate a strong commitment to driving positive change and innovation.
Sponsored by Clarion Events, dmg events, Informa Markets, Messe Düsseldorf, and RX, the programme offers recipients mentorship and guidance from global industry leaders, making it the exhibition industry’s leading talent accelerator initiative.
The 2026 NGL Programme winners are:
- Divya Jashnani – Head of Data & Analytics, dmg events (UAE)
- Ewa Łukomska-Ślęk – Brand Communication Manager, Targi Kielce (Poland)
- Mariella Greifenberg – Senior Customer Experience Manager, Messe Düsseldorf North America (US)
- Tracy Abou Jaoude – Project Manager, IFP Group (Lebanon)
- Vivian Yap – Assistant Business Development Manager, Exhibitions, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Malaysia)
The 2026 NGL mission centres on how exhibitions can stay relevant in a world shaped by Gen Z and younger Millennials. Throughout the programme, the NGLs will explore and develop bold, forward-thinking approaches to help exhibitions engage the emerging generations.
The Jury:
- The jury was chaired by Panittha Buri, UFI President and Vice Chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group, and included:
- Ann-Katrin Lammers – Head of HR, Messe Düsseldorf (Germany)
- Brian Brittain – COO, RX (UK)
- Catherine Girven – Head of Learning, Informa (UK)
- Chris Skeith OBE – CEO & Managing Director, UFI (UK)
- Diana Maria Salman – Senior Sales Manager, FEXPOCRUZ (Bolivia)
- Hala Dean – VP, Organizational Learning & Development, Clarion Events (USA)
- Premila Braganza – Vice President – HR, dmg events (UAE)
“If exhibitions are powered by people, then the NGL programme is where the energy comes from. This year’s winners impressed with fresh thinking, fearless ideas & a real appetite to make a difference. Expect them to shake things up – in the best way possible – at the UFI Global Congress this November,” commented UFI President Panittha Buri.
The NGLs will begin their journey with an in-person workshop during the UFI European Conference in Izmir, Turkiye, in June. Over the following seven months, they will collaborate online to further develop their project. The programme will conclude with a group presentation at the 93rd UFI Global Congress, offering a global platform to share their insights, ideas, and vision for the future of the industry.
UFI congratulates the winners of the 2026 Next Generation Leadership programme and looks forward to supporting them as they embark on this exciting journey.
For more information about the NGL programme, visit the UFI website: www.ufi.org/nglprogramme.
