Prime Highlights
- Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre General Manager John Burke joins the AIPC Board of Directors for 2025.
- The appointment positions Malaysia as a key champion in powering the world’s business events industry.
Key Fact
- Malaysia gains voting membership on the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) Board.
- Burke will be collaborating with global leaders in driving international standards in venue excellence.
Key Background
In the first for Malaysia’s business events industry, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) General Manager John Burke has been elected to the AIPC Board of Directors in 2025. Such significant appointment positions Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia in a leadership position in global business event strategy-making and policy development.
AIPC Board members consist of delegates of major convention centres across over 55 countries around the globe. Burke will serve as a board member and join other world-class industry professionals from across the world, such as Switzerland and South Africa, to advance best practice and enhance standards in venue management. International representation of this kind ensures that Asia—and indirectly Malaysia—is represented in the decision-making exercises that will shape the future of international conventions and meetings.
This board appointment is also aligned with the strategic move towards the broader vision of the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s (MyCEB) aspiration to position Malaysia as the world’s top destination for international business events. MyCEB aims to attract 5.9 million delegates and create RM42.12 billion worth of economic contribution by 2030. Burke’s appointment to the board will enable the return of global insights into Malaysia to enhance local execution and competitiveness.
KLCC, Malaysia’s premier convention centre, has long been recognized for high-tech facilities of excellence and quality dedication. The centre boasts over 34,000 square meters of flexible space in the guise of auditoria, exhibition halls, and meeting rooms. It is awarded with a range of awards such as AIPC Gold together with other ISO accreditations that reflect its operational excellence and green credentials.
Burke’s membership on the board is also a reflection of KLCC and operating company ASM Global’s top international standing. His appointment is a personal reflection of his success, but it is also an unambivalent vote of confidence in Kuala Lumpur as an international business events leader. It’s a sign of a more bold international cooperation, innovation, and information exchange in the exhibition and meeting industry.