The Chapter Management Advisory Council (CMAC) was established in 2024 as a strategic initiative to give SITE chapters a stronger voice and support system within the global organization.
Comprised of former and current chapter leaders, CMAC works closely with SITE staff to advise on chapter-related issues, advocate for procedural improvements, and identify solutions for chapter challenges.
In its first year, the council successfully launched a new Chapter Bylaws and Chapter Charter framework, introduced a revised Chapter Revenue Share model, and helped address operational barriers facing international chapters. CMAC continues to play a key role in shaping the future of SITE’s chapter network through collaborative leadership and global insight.
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Q: What has helped shape your experience on SITE’s Chapter Management Advisory Council?
A: When SITE invited me to join this advisory council, I was genuinely surprised. I’ve worked extensively for SITE Spain & Portugal, and it meant a lot to see that commitment is seen and valued. Supporting a SITE HQ initiative, through this Council, felt like both a recognition and an unexpected opportunity to contribute on a broader level.
My leadership path began with Airy Garrigosa, founder of SITE Spain. She taught me that SITE is built on trust, collaboration, and purpose, but she also left something deeper: a shared emotional legacy that connected us beyond business.
I felt this most clearly after the pandemic, when our chapter needed renewed energy and direction to survive. Without hesitation, a group of professionals, many of us shaped by Airy’s influence, came together. It wasn’t just duty; it was personal. That internal drive, rooted in connection and shared values, gave us the courage to reimagine the chapter and expand to include Portugal.
As a senior professional, I also feel a strong responsibility to pass the torch to the next generation, ensuring they understand where we come from and why the work done until now matters while encouraging them to evolve our industry.
So: my role on the Council is shaped by this collective experience and the belief that chapters are living communities.
Q: As someone new to the Chapter Management Advisory Council, what are you most looking forward to contributing or learning?
A: I aim to contribute mindset that is human-centered, intuitive, and grounded in authentic relationships. I’m especially passionate about exploring new ways to engage and energize chapter leaders through formats that feel more meaningful, collaborative, and relevant to their local realities.
I also look forward to exchanging ideas with fellow Council members, learning how different chapters grow, adapt, and lead, and discovering new ways we can support each other.
Being part of this Council is an opportunity to both share what I’ve learned and stay open to new approaches that can benefit the entire SITE community.
Q: What opportunities are you most passionate about helping address in the months ahead?
A: I’m passionate about supporting SITE as it evolves in step with the paradigm shift our industry is facing:
- Empowering Young Leaders with tools for critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decision-making.
- Embedding personal wellbeing and mental health into event design — rethinking how we plan, deliver, and experience events.
- Advancing conscious leadership in the face of global change and uncertainty that affects us all.
- Addressing sustainability environmentally, socially and personally — from the impact of tourism on local communities, to internal team cultures.
The Chapter Management Advisory Council already embodies the spirit of transformation. What makes it truly powerful is the diversity of its members, each bringing unique experiences, perspectives, and areas of expertise. My contribution is just one part of this collective vision.
Q: Looking ahead, what are you most excited about when it comes to the Council’s strategic role in shaping the future of SITE’s chapter network, especially in Europe?
A: I believe Europe is uniquely positioned to become a living lab for the future of SITE’s chapter model, one that embraces diversity not just as a value, but as a driver of innovation.
Our region brings together different working cultures, generational perspectives, and approaches to leadership. This complexity is not a challenge: it’s an opportunity to co-create new ways of building community, engaging members, and measuring impact.
I see this Council playing a key role in that evolution: by supporting adaptive chapter models that reflect the identity, rhythm, and needs of each region.
From rethinking leadership structures to experimenting with formats for engagement, Europe can help pioneer a more flexible and human-centered approach to how SITE grows.
SITE’s future won’t come from applying the same model everywhere, it will come from the courage to adapt, the freedom to innovate, and the commitment to stay human at every step.
