Celje, 27 October 2026 – Nina Ermenc Pangerl, President of the Management Board of Celjski sejem, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
The 3-year mandate will commence after the General Assembly meeting on 2 November 2026 at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Founded in 1925, UFI has been the voice of the global exhibition industry for over a century. UFI’s core mission is to represent, connect, and advance the exhibition community worldwide, serving trade show organisers, exhibition centre operators, major national and international exhibition associations, and selected industry partners. Today, UFI unites around 900 member organisations across 90 countries and regions, directly representing over 50,000 exhibition industry employees worldwide.
The UFI Board of Directors is comprised of a maximum of 61 members, and elections take place every three years. During this process, the members elect a truly global body with representatives from UFI chapters around the world.
The Board of Directors is tasked with implementing decisions taken by the General Assembly, developing UFI policy and preparing all proposals related to matters affecting international trade fairs. After thorough preparation, these proposals are submitted to UFI members for a vote at the annual General Assembly.
Panittha Buri, UFI President, comments: “Our Board of Directors reflects what makes UFI truly special: a global community united by a shared commitment to advancing the exhibition industry.
I warmly congratulate all newly elected members and extend my sincere thanks to those stepping down for their dedication, commitment and service to UFI.
Ultimately, an association is only as strong as the commitment and contribution of its members. Its true value lies not only in its leadership, but in the willingness of its entire community to participate, share expertise, exchange ideas and work together towards common goals.
UFI’s strength comes from the people who give their time, energy and passion to shaping its future. While the Board provides leadership and direction, it is the combined commitment of the Board and the wider membership that brings our association to life and enables it to thrive.
As we look ahead, I am confident that by continuing to work together, support one another and actively contribute to our shared vision, we can make UFI even stronger and create greater value for our global exhibition community. After all, the future of UFI is something we shape together.”
