IPCAA NEWSLETTER

The feedback from the recent survey into aspects of member companies' internal conference departments and their activity and structure is still being analysed in detail and members will receive a full report in due course. However, some initial aspects can be released here and will no doubt be of interest to IPCAA News readers.

There is, understandably, a wide range of titles applied to the internal departments responsible for corporate participation in meetings and congresses etc., depending on specific responsibilities and corporate organisation/reporting lines.

Geographical responsibility amongst those surveyed shows around 60% operate on a global basis (including the US), and almost all others describe their activity as international.

Almost all departments manage other external meetings for their organisation as well. Approximately one third, however, have no responsibility for internal company meetings and events.

In a small number of companies, conference organisation is managed under the auspices of Purchasing. Interestingly, around one third of conference departments have seen a switch in their reporting lines within the last three years, Approximately the same proportion expect a reporting change during the next three years.

Almost all of the departments surveyed perform their allocated task with 15 employees or less. Staff levels of 20 plus seem to be the exception.

There is a tendency these days for much of congress-related logistics activities to be outsourced, particularly with over half of the respondents citing an increase in events participation over the last three years.

There is a significant responsibility for conference departments to ensure activities fall within compliance frameworks, in close coordination with compliance and legal departments.

This has been a very brief overview. Further, more detailed information and specific aspects of interest and use to IPCAA members will be provided via the IPCAA website in due course.

For further information email christian-claus.roth@novartis.com