Members of events industry association Eventia have elected three new agency representatives and three new partner (supplier) representatives to serve on its board from 2007 to 2009.

The newly elected board members are: Jonathan Cohen, Visit Denmark; Gary England, Sodexho Prestige; Aileen Reuter, Maritz Europa; Matt Storey, Gallowglass; Mark Taylor, Grass Roots UK; and John Walker, Oxford International.

The results of the electoral ballot, conducted during May and June, were announced at Eventia’s annual general meeting (AGM), held on 25 June at the InterContinental London Hyde Park.

“This year we had 12 strong candidates competing for the six vacant seats; making it a hotly-contested election," said Eventia's executive director, Izania Downie. "It’s really gratifying that so many people have shown an interest in joining the Board, and testament to Eventia’s growing popularity and profile.”

She added that the Association’s Board was sub-divided into a number of committees addressing specific areas of activity, and that there would certainly be scope for the remaining candidates to be co-opted onto these working groups.

In addition, to the newly-elected board members, a further six elected members remain on Eventia’s Board for their second year of office. They are: Rob Allen, TRO; Patrick Collins, Universal; Brian Kirsch, Event Assured; Dana Lewis, Accor Hotels UK and Ireland; Martin Parry, World Events; and Nigel Cooper, P&MM Travel – who retires as Chairman, but serves his second and final year as an elected board member.

Under Eventia’s constitution, board members serve for a two-year term on a rotational basis, so that each year 50% of them retire, with the option to stand for re-election. This year, Jonathan Cohen and John Walker exercised this option and were duly re-elected.

As his last duty as outgoing Chairman, at Eventia’s AGM Nigel Cooper thanked the board of 2006-07 for its continued hard work and enthusiasm, and congratulated them on their collective achievements during the course of the year.

The first duty of the 2007-2008 board will be to conduct its own internal election to identify Nigel Cooper’s successor from amongst the serving board members. The identity of the new Chair will be announced at the Association’s Summer Conference, taking place on 1-3 July – and he or she will assume office with immediate effect.