The 2024-25 UFI presidential trio consist of Panittha Buri as incoming president; Hugh Jones as president; and Geoff Dickinson as outgoing president.
The UFI Board of Directors has elected Panittha Buri,
vice-chairperson of Thailand's Bhiraj Buri Group, to serve as the global
exhibition industry association's president for the 2025-26 term.
Buri will join the UFI presidential trio as incoming president in
November 2024 before ascending to the presidency at the 92nd UFI Global
Congress in Hong Kong in November 2025.
The 2024-25 UFI presidential trio will consist of:
- Hugh Jones (CEO, RX) as president
- Panittha Buri (vice-chairperson, Bhiraj Buri Group) as incoming president
- Geoff Dickinson (CEO, dmg events) as outgoing president
This decision will become effective at the conclusion of the 91st UFI
Global Congress, which will take place from 20 to 23 November 2024 in
Cologne, Germany.
Panittha Buri, vice-chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group, has held prominent roles in Thailand’s MICE industry.Buri has served as the vice-chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group since
October 2022. Previously, she held various roles at the Bangkok
International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), including managing
director and director of marketing & sales. Since 2023, Buri has
taken on several prominent roles: chair of the UFI Asia Pacific Chapter,
president of the Thai Exhibition Association (TEA), and board member of
the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). She is also an
expert representative for Bangna Commercial College and a board member
of both UFI and AIPC.
Expressing gratitude for "this leadership role at UFI", Buri said she
looked forward to pursuing UFI's mission "with passion, integrity and a
shared vision”.
Based in Paris, the 98-year-old UFI represents over 50,000 exhibition
professionals across almost 90 countries worldwide. Recent UFI
Presidents have hailed from the UK, Hong Kong, India, USA, South Africa,
and Italy.