Over the past few years, Indians have significantly consolidated their presence at the global stage, especially pertaining to the MICE industry. Most recently we had released the news about Mr. V. Anbu being elected as the President of UFI for 2020-21 and now we are breaking the news that Mr. Ravinder Sethi has been elected as the Chairman of The Committee of IELA.
Better known by its acronym IELA, International Exhibition Logistics Association has been a pioneer association in the international exhibition sector. Formally established in March 1985 as the International Exhibition Logistics Associates, it has covered a long way since then. Apart from a myriad of other functions, it mainly provides a forum for those people and companies that are engaged in the international transportation of exhibition material. Besides this, it aims to establish standards of performance for contractors involved in the physical movement of material to and from an exhibition site, as well as for contractors providing customs clearance, lifting, handling, trucking and storage services on-site. Further, it also aims to establish a general database, provide information to the new-entrants of the industry and also to provide formal liaison between those involved in the transportation of exhibits and associated industries.
Mr. Ravinder Sethi, Vice President, Indian Exhibition Industry Association(IEIA) and Managing Director, RE Rogers India, was elected as the Chairman of ’The Committee’ in the recent election of the International Exhibition Logistics Association(IELA) held at Venice this week. During the General Assembly, two new committee members were elected namely- Mr. Ravinder Sethi and Greg Keh, Chief Operating Officer, TWI Group Inc., USA. The Committee now consists of its Chairman, Mr. Ravinder Sethi and Mr. Greg Keh and Mr. Markus Eichenberger as other two members.
Since the Barcelona edition,2012, The Committee remains as a three-member body. Last year, Mr. Markus Eichenberger, BTG Suisse Ltd., Switzerland, was re-elected to The Committee. The first meeting of the committee took place the same day of the elections and Mr. Ravinder Sethi from India was elected as its Chairperson.
The committee is a 3-member body in the IELA’s governing council, elected directly by its members. The committee is entrusted to ensure that the Board of Management is functioning in accordance with its scope entrusted by the Articles and Statutes of IELA. The committee derives its existence from Article 9 of Chapter III which deals with the governing bodies of the association, in the statute of IELA.
Article 26 of the IELA statute directs the Board to transmit all the information to the Committee which is required by The Committee in order to comply with its responsibility. This includes the accounts of IELA on a quarterly basis, and the minutes of the Board meetings, to which the Committee may be invited to attend. It further empowers The Committee to communicate to the Board any observation at any time on any matter, which it deems appropriate and consider to be of the best interest of IELA. Under article 27, The Committee reports to the General Assembly. It may also request the Board to convene an Extraordinary General Assembly for deliberation on matters which it considers to be the nature of the utmost importance. Further, The Committee is also authorized to request to the Board to include its points into the agenda of the Ordinary General Assembly, to be submitted to the members.
The election of Mr. Ravinder Sethi as the Chairman of The Committee of the IELA marks a proud moment for India. Speaking to Exhibition Showcase, Mr. Sethi said- “The founding fathers of IELA were very wise in creating checks & balances in the governing bodies. It is in their wisdom that The Committee (earlier known as the Legal Board) was created. The existing governing bodies and functional working groups of IELA are brilliant. The Committee has an extremely responsible role in ensuring that everything remains like this. I have had a great journey in IELA. From a simple member to committee member, to chairing committees, to be on the Board, become Chairman (15 years back), and then come back on the Board four years back has been a memorable experience. To be elected Chairman of The Committee is now the ultimate honor. And to have Greg and Markus as fellow members is an even greater honor. I am truly humbled by the faith and confidence that IELA has bestowed on me.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
