Our Story

The International Association for Events Studies has been formed to support a growing community of researchers, professionals and students around the world who share a passion for the events industry. As a truly international association, we focus on developing global networks and providing opportunities for our members to work together on research, publications and developing the new ideas that can power the events industry, worldwide. 

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In 2008, IAES' Chair  visited China for the first time to present events research during the period when China hosted the Olympic Games.  He was struck by the rapid growth of interest in events research in China, and began to collaborate with colleagues from China on building research networks to connect international researchers  in this area.  After the Shanghai World Expo in 2010, Dr Mingguang Liu and Dr James Kennell began to develop the plans for a new association and in 2019 this was formalised during Dr Liu's research visit to the UK, when IAES was born!​​