Diane CHEN, General Manager and Board Member of Shenyang New World EXPO (EXPO), has been elected to the Board of Directors of UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and invited to join the UFI Executive Committee for the 2026-2029 by UFI President Ms Buri alongside the TRIO.
The 3-year mandate commences after the General Assembly meeting on 2 November 2026 at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“I am deeply privileged to be elected to the UFI Board of Directors as a President’s Choice and to serve on the Executive Committee for the 2026-2029 mandate,” said Diane CHEN. “I am grateful to President Panittha Buri for her confidence in me. This appointment is not only a personal honour, but a reflection of the growing voice of the Asia-Pacific region and of the venue operators who bring our industry’s events to life. I look forward to working with colleagues across the world to strengthen our industry and support the next generation of leaders.”
EXPO’s Senior Executive Advisor, a 60-year industry veteran and Honorary UFI President Cliff Wallace, is confident CHEN’s appointment is an indication of her leadership skills as well as EXPO and Shenyang’s excellent reputation in the Chinese exhibition and meeting market. Shenyang and Liaoning Government’s emphasis on supporting and nurturing the industry is to its credit.
Founded in 1925, UFI has been the voice of the global exhibition industry for over a century. UFI’s core mission is to represent, connect, and advance the exhibition community worldwide, serving trade show organisers, exhibition centre operators, major national and international exhibition associations, and selected industry partners. Today, UFI unites around 900 member organisations across 90 countries and regions, directly representing over 50,000 exhibition industry employees worldwide.
The UFI Board of Directors is comprised of a maximum of 61 members, and elections take place every three years. During this process, the members elect a truly global body with representatives from UFI chapters around the world. The Executive Committee develops UFI’s general policy positions and submits its recommendations to the Board of Directors for further review and action.
The Board of Directors is tasked with implementing decisions taken by the General Assembly, developing UFI policy and preparing all proposals related to matters affecting international trade fairs. After thorough preparation, these proposals are submitted to UFI members for a vote at the annual General Assembly
Panitha Buri, UFI President, comments: “Our Board of Directors reflects what makes UFI truly special: a global community united by a shared commitment to advancing the exhibition industry.
I warmly congratulate all newly elected members and extend my sincere thanks to those stepping down for their dedication, commitment and service to UFI.
Ultimately, an association is only as strong as the commitment and contribution of its members. Its true value lies not only in its leadership, but in the willingness of its entire community to participate, share expertise, exchange ideas and work together towards common goals.
UFI’s strength comes from the people who give their time, energy and passion to shaping its future. While the Board provides leadership and direction, it is the combined commitment of the Board and the wider membership that brings our association to life and enables it to thrive.
As we look ahead, I am confident that by continuing to work together, support one another and actively contribute to our shared vision, we can make UFI even stronger and create greater value for our global exhibition community. After all, the future of UFI is something we shape together.”
