By V. Sivaji
John D Chacko, the organizing chairman of the 45th International Advertising Association’s (IAA) World Congress and president of the IAA Malaysia spoke to Penang Hyperlocal to shed light on the prestigious event.
Penang has the honour of hosting the event for the very first time from March 6-8, 2024 at the Amari SPICE Convention Centre here.
The world-class event is even more significant as it is being hosted in the South East Asian region for the very first time too.
We started off with some Q&A session with John.
Q – How did Penang manage to get the chance to host this prestigious event?
A – Penang was selected because Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) and the office of the State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy agreed to co-host the event. In addition, Penang being a confluence of Diversity, History, Heritage, Culture and great cuisine made it a natural choice. I have worked on a host city for the Congress since 2019, and Penang State was the most receptive to supporting the Congress.
Q- What are the other cities around the world which have hosted this congress?
A- The past 44 Congresses were hosted in major cities including New York, London, Paris, Beijing, Sydney, Moscow and most recently in Kochi, India. The 45th will be in Penang which is the first in South East Asia.
Q – How many delegates are expected to attend and which countries they represent?
A- We expect up to 1,200 delegates from the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, Africa, Middle East, Greater China and the APAC region.
Q – What are the big corporations and organizations attending this congress?
A – Our major corporate partners are Google, META, LinkedIn, BBC Studios, LIONS-Cannes Lions, Contagious, WARC to name a few. More partners locally and globally will be named in the coming weeks. We are also working in collaboration with the associations including 4As, MAA, MDA, MSA, OAAM to name a few.
Q – Can you name some of the high profile personalities coming for the congress ?
A – The major speakers include – – Simon Cook- CEO LIONS- Cannes Lions, WARC, Contagious & Acuity Pricing, Maher Nasser UN Dir of Outreach Communications, The Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Information Ghana, Dean Aragon, CEO and Vice Chairman Shell Brands International AG, David Haigh, Global Founder and CEO Brand Finance, Caroline Yap, Managing Director, Global Google AI Business, Dr. Sofia Paes, Data Policy Advisor, The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia, Dr. Alex Connock, Senior Fellow ,University of Oxford, Byron O’ Dell , VP S&P Global, Laura Maness, Global CEO Grey, Daryl Lee, Global CEO, MCCAIN Worldwide, Chairman/President, IAA Global CEO Wunderman Thompson, NY, John D Chacko. President IAA Malaysia, IAA Global VP and Chairman of the 45th IAA World Congress.
Q – What are the important topics of discussion and how can Penang benefit from this
congress?
A – It is three-day congress addressing some of the most important and pressing topics of our times with Day 1 on Sustainability for Growth With Good, Day 2 on Creativity with Technology for Better Life and Day 3 in keeping with IWD will address Inclusivity Beyond Diversity For Better World.
Q – Are there any other relevant information you might want to share?
A – This is the first in South East Asia and is testament to Penang and Malaysia in the global arena. The theme of the Congress is Brand RE_CODE, Better World, Better Life. The congress will take place from March 6-8, 2024 at the Spice Convention Centre. The third day of the Congress will celebrate International Women’s Day. The Congress is HRDC Claimable under the Public Conference Scheme. Delegate fees are debited fully to the HRDC levy fund and daily trainee allowances and actual flight ticket cost is reimbursable. Contact Amy Chia at [email protected].
“A new dynamic is unfolding. The convergence of social, economic, and climate crises, along with rapid technological advancements has created a new reality for brands and businesses to navigate. Companies must adapt and reshape their entire operating models. The urgency to address climate change has become a focal point to reduce environmental impact and ensure long-term resilience. Social issues such as inequality, diversity, and inclusion have gained significant attention from customers. Technological advancements like AI continue to disrupt industries, bringing both opportunities and challenges. We invite you to participate in this Congress where we will share best practices, case studies and new frameworks of how creativity and technology can build significant value and enable brands and businesses to become a force for good”, said John to Penang Hyperlocal.