This September, IPPAG member company Mitraco played host to IPPAG members from 25 countries for a week of meetings and events in Vienna, an outstanding historical and cultural setting.
IPPAG’s annual conference is an opportunity for members from all continents to fully disconnect from their daily business and spend time together, taking a step back, and a step up… Looking at their own businesses, each others, the industry and beyond: to continue to collectively shape the path forwards.
Further to the launch of IPPAG new brand identity and purpose at the previous years events in Guatemala, the Vienna events were curated to continue to develop the theme of IPPAG Changemakers, an identity that has become an integral part of each individual IPPAG member company. This is spread within teams and the is the guiding principle for the projects / initiatives the Cooperative collectively develops.
Events kicked off on Wednesday 25th September: with a keynote on “Inspiring growth: about the art of embracing the new and moving forward constantly and consciously” by Henriette Fradlich, setting the essential mindset for the rest of the week: focused on taking change from intentions to actions…
This was followed by an exceptional presentation by Bobby Lehew, chief content officer of Common SKU in the US. Bobby is an expert storyteller: weaving a surprising and captivating narrative about fan-fuelled branded merch… Demonstrating how, when done right, with creativity and a cultural connection: merch can be so much more than advertising…
IPPAG members were then invited to take up this challenge themselves by creating pitches for fictive client cases: with a high level of impact and relevance.
As a group exercise: this harnessed the creativity and out of the box thinking of members from different countries and markets: creating a wealth of ideas and inspiration.
On Thursday 26th September: IPPAG and its members had the honour and privilege of joining the GXN Executive network industry conference which was being held in coordination with the Cooperative’s events. This gave IPPAG an unparalleled opportunity to widen the circle: by connecting up to the 40+ international GXN members also present: and gain innovative and unique industry insights thanks to the variety and value of presenters, panels and topics curated by GXN..
For the groups final day, on Friday 27th September: significant time was dedicated to member case stories: demonstrating how each and every IPPAG member is creating change within their own company, and market.
And finally, the day of internal meetings served to set the scene for IPPAG’s new Product guidance initiative: the Better Life Circle.
Due to be launched in 2025, this initiative aims to provide an industry-wide framework considers a products entire life cycle, measuring not only the carbon impact, but also including social and environmental pillars.
Events culminated in Friday evening’s Gala dinner set in the extraordinary setting of Vienna’s Zoological parc the oldest in the world: in the ‘Emperor’s Pavilion’.
Awards were given out to the most deserving member companies:
– the most promising Changemaker award was given to Jasani LLC, UAE
– the most inspiring Changemaker award was given to The Good Idea, Italy
– the wisest Changemaker award was given to IMI Partner, Czech Republic
IPPAG’s next events will be held in Germany and the US in January, in Hong Kong next April and Swede, in September 2025: for the groups 60th anniversary.
