Marie Lechner takes over the management of the Austrian Convention Bureau
After ten years, Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch handed over the management of the Austrian Convention Bureau (ACB) to her successor Marie Lechner at the end of August 2025. This starts the Association of the Austrian conference and congress industry In a Neue away, remains loyal to his three central pillars – advocacy, network and knowledge – And at the same time sets a clear sign of further development and continuity.
Thanks for a decade full of milestones
Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch has headed the ACB office since 2015 and, together with the board, contributed to the further development of the association. Under its leadership, the ACB strengthened its role as Central voice of the Austrian congress and conference management and was one reliable contact point – even in times of great upheavals.
In the ACB office, she specifically expanded the personnel resources, digitized internal processes and established new ones Knowledge and exchange formats – including the Best Meeting Thesis Austria (2016), die Beginners Lounge (2020) and that Onboarding Camp (2022) – to promote the young industry. Also as editor on the FH Vienna WKW In the field of event and congress design, she campaigned for the training of future specialists and accompanied over 130 students during this period. With the continuous work on the annual congress statistics Meeting Industry Report Austria (mira) Delivered the ACB reliably figures that describe the segment and prove the economic importance of the industry. Almost 200,000 congresses, company meetings and seminars were registered during their term of office. In Corona pandemic, the ACB office offered stability and orientation under its leadership-with flexible formats and strong advocacy. The Conference laboratory Convention4U She certified ten times as Green Meeting And it consistently campaigned for a sustainable, connecting meeting culture, which was particularly visible at the annual congress. Special thanks also go to your professional support in creating the first Austria -wide Convention-Strategie „Meet in Austria“.
„Michaela Schedlbauer-Zippusch has decisively shaped the ACB over a decade
“, Says ACB President Renate Androsch-Holzer. „With her passion for sustainability, its clear attitude in challenging times and her tireless commitment to growing industry, she has sustainably strengthened the ACB office and our community. For that we thank her from the heart.“
It remains connected to the industry about its new function and will take over the position as Head of Governance and Community at the European Medical Association United European Gastroenterology (UEG) based in Vienna.
„I am proud of what we have achieved together in the team- from strengthening our community to the establishment of the ACB as a knowledge and impulse provider for the Austrian conference industry
“, Emphasizes Schedlbauer-Zippusch.”I would like to thank the ACB team, the board-including President Christian Mutschlechner, Gerhard Stüb and Renate Androsch-Holzer-and all members for trust. I am pleased to know with Marie Lechner a committed successor who takes a fresh look and a lot of knowledge of industry.“
Many years of industry experience and new perspectives
With Marie Lechner, an experienced expert in the congress system takes over the management. She was last responsible for the ACB Congress & Education Management and has been organizing the Convention4U conference laboratory and the training platform since 2023 ACB know.how. Previously, she worked from 2014 to 2022 at the Professional Congress Organizer Mondial Congress & Events. The qualified tourism manager (IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems) brings extensive know-how from the national and international congress environment.
„The congress and conference industry stands for change, innovation and personal encounter- this is exactly where I would like to start as a managing director
“, so Lechner. „It is important to me to continue the successful path of the ACB and to set new impulses for sustainability, young talent and employee support together with the board, team and members.
“
„We are pleased to have won a managing director with Marie Lechner who has known our industry for many years, is well networked and starts with fresh ideas“, Says ACB President Renate Androsch-Holzer. „Together we will further expand the position of the ACB as an impulse and strong voice of the meeting industry.“
Invitation to participate and network
The personnel change marks the beginning of a new section for the ACB and underlines the continuous development of the industry. “”We invite all members, partners and interested parties to actively shape this path-be it as part of our ACB formats, through networking or in personal exchange at Convention4U 2026 in Zell am See
“, ACB President Renate Androsch-Holzer says on behalf of the board.
More information about the association and current further training at www.acb.at