Maria Gabriella
Gentile graduated in English Language and Literature at the University of
Bologna in
1982.
She gained her experience in the meetings industry by beginning her professional career in
1983 at the Conference Centre of Bologna,
where she held several positions.
She was head of
the Inhouse PCO department, Technical Manager of the
Travel Agency owned by the Bologna Conference Centre and, from 1995, Sales Manager of Bologna Congressi Spa,
with specific functions of coordination, promotion and marketing of the city of Bologna as a conference
destination on the national and
international market.
In February 2001 she established Meeting
Consultants Srl, a company that specializes in the
design and consulting services for
marketing, communication, education and organization in the meeting industry.
In this context
, she has collaborated and worked on projects for
several private companies and public institutions in
Italy and
abroad.
Since 2006 she is a contract lecturer in "Management of Cultural Events" - Language Society and Communication- University of Bologna. She has
also served as lecturer in several university masters' and
corporate training courses in Italy, and has designed and held
seminars for industry professionals. Since July 2009 is head and scientific chair of the Learning Center of
Federcongressi&eventi.
She has been involved in national and international industry associations as a
member of the Executive Boards of IAPCO (International Association
of Professional Congress Organisers), Meet in Italy, MPI (Meeting
Professionals International) and Federcongressi&eventi. She has
also been chairperson of MPI Italia Chapter (2002-2003) and vice-president of
Federcongressi&eventi (2011-2013 and 2017-2019).
She is currently President of Federcongressi&eventi, the association that represents all the professionals of the Italian meetings industry.
