BestCities welcomes Edward Koh as new board chair

Executive director at Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau will greet industry in his new role at IMEX Frankfurt.

SECB’s Edward Koh takes over the role of board chair from Kit Lykketoft, director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau.
SECB’s Edward Koh takes over the role of board chair from Kit Lykketoft, director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau.

BestCities Global Alliance has appointed Edward Koh, executive director of the Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel division of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau, as board chair.

Koh will greet the industry in his new role at IMEX Frankfurt, taking over over the position from Kit Lykketoft, director of the Copenhagen Convention Bureau.

As board chair, Koh will prioritise knowledge creation and client engagement in the fields of legacy and sustainability, with a goal of growing the global impact of meetings events. He will also work on enhancing BestCities’ focus on economic, social and environmental sustainability, enabling alliance members to offer delegates more responsible ways to meet amid the growing climate emergency.

“I am delighted to take on the role of BestCities board chair to build on the good work of my predecessors in seizing growth opportunities in the post-pandemic world for our partners and clients,” said Koh. “With our renewed focus on sustainability as a core value proposition, we aspire to create more responsible impact and leave a lasting legacy on the world.”

Lykketoft, who has completed her two-year tenure as board chair, oversaw the addition of two new partner cities – Guadalajara and Dublin – and successfully navigated the alliance through the global pandemic, among other accomplishments.

Meanwhile, Julia Swanson, CEO of the Melbourne Convention Bureau, will assume Edward’s vacated role of incoming board chair, and David Noack Perez, director of the Madrid Convention Bureau, will take up the position of board treasurer.