The Meetings Industry Association (MIA), a UK-based trade body for the meetings and events sector, has announced that its Operations Director will retire in May 2026, concluding an 18-year career with the organisation. Her departure marks the end of a tenure that significantly shaped the association's growth, operational framework, and member support systems.

Travel and Tour World reported that the Operations Director joined the MIA in 2008 in an administrative role before advancing to become Operations Director in 2024.

During her tenure, she was instrumental in developing the association's operational infrastructure and strengthening member services. She led the implementation of Meetings Intelligence, a platform providing members with actionable insights and benchmarking tools for strategic planning, and launched MIA Meets, a programme creating networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities beyond the traditional annual general meeting format.

Her leadership proved particularly pivotal during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she worked closely with members to navigate operational and commercial challenges, providing guidance and resources to help businesses adapt to unprecedented industry disruption.

Beyond operational management, her long-standing presence ensured continuity during successive leadership transitions, providing stability, institutional knowledge, and expertise that supported the MIA's long-term strategy. Her familiarity with member needs and internal processes allowed the association to maintain momentum through periods of change.

To prepare for the transition, the MIA has launched recruitment for a Membership and Operations Manager, aiming to ensure smooth responsibility transfer and maintain service continuity. By initiating recruitment ahead of the retirement date, the association seeks to safeguard operational stability whilst bringing in new expertise.

See how the Meetings Industry Association is managing this leadership transition and maintaining operational continuity.